Hemp Farming and Credit Access in the United States: Developing a Conceptual Framework for Future Research

This article discusses hemp farming and credit access in the United States. We provide background on hemp cultivation and review existing conceptual models of credit access, highlighting potential applications to hemp farming. The discussion focuses on hemp cultivation legislation, the role of credit in hemp farming, and conceptual models of credit access. The conceptual examination emphasizes investment planning, information availability, and production risks. Agricultural producers rely on credit to obtain capital, expand or diversify their operations, and manage risk. Limited access to traditional credit for hemp cultivation increases the use of nontraditional credit, attracts equity from outside of agriculture, and leaves growers vulnerable to risk. Past research on the credit landscape for hemp is limited. We summarize recent developments and review conceptual models to identify opportunities for further research.