Research & Extension

Research Projects

Evaluating the Economic Feasibility of Companion Cropping in Industrial Hemp

Funding: USDA NIFA Tribal College Research Grant Program

The overall goal of this research is identify the best methods to cultivate Cannabis sativa with companion cropping methods on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation, in a USDA plant hardiness zone 3b, for economic feasibility.

Building a resilient organic hemp industry from seed to market: assessing research, extension, and education needs

Funding: USDA OREI Planning Grant

The goal of this project is to identify research, extension, and education priorities that will support the development of the organic hemp industry to be resilient, sustainable, profitable, and equitable.

Hemp Viruses Detection and Diagnostics

Funding: USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Award

The goal of this work is to explore the diversity of virus communities infecting hemp, and develop a detection method for said viruses. In the intermediate term, we hope to elucidate the function of coinfecting viruses toward modulating disease severity, with particular interest in HpLVd.

Cultivar Check Program

Funding: USDA SARE

Our proposed project will build on existing researcher-farmer partnerships to conduct participatory hemp cultivar trials to rapidly generate relevant, research-based information for the hemp industry. All data generated will be integrated into the Midwestern Hemp Database (MHD) a public online resource supporting stakeholder decision-making and risk mitigation.

Pre-characterization and Preservation of American Hemp Germplasm

Funding: USDA NIFA Supplemental and Alternative Crops

Our integrated research and extension goal is to collect a geographically distributed range of genetically diverse and THC-complaint hemp germplasm that will kick start research and breeding efforts, while collaborating with and educating citizen scientists and stakeholders about industrial hemp and its potential downstream uses.

Hemp Genetics, Germplasm, and Biotechnology: Phase 1

Funding: USDA ARS NACA – 2022-2027

Dissecting the genetic architecture of fiber, grain and floral traits in hemp (Cannabis sativa)

The Midwestern Hemp Research Collaborative: Participatory Research and Extension to Grow a Sustainable Hemp Industry

Funding: USDA NIFA Supplemental and Alternative Crops

Our primary goal is to increase the regional adaptation, productivity and profitability of grain and fiber hemp by addressing the critical need for university and farmer supplied data on cultivar performance, agronomic best practices, pest incidence and severity.

Aphanomyces euteiches root rot genetic mapping in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The goal of this work is to map QTL and develop KASP markers for Aphanomyces euteiches resistance in common bean.