Over a hundred years ago, hemp was a major commercial crop in Kentucky, and the Commonwealth was one of the nation’s leading hemp producers. By mid-century, Kentucky’s commercial hemp production market started to drop. Now, decades later, local businesses and entrepreneurs are driving initiatives to renew growth and production of the versatile crop. Hemp can be used to manufacture over 25,000 products from clothing and food to building materials and pharmaceuticals. A recent USDA report, found that Kentucky and Tennessee were among the top six states nationwide in hemp production, with many other Appalachian states not far behind.

Across the region, communities are seriously pursuing hemp. New York, for example, launched its Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot program in 2015, which allowed a limited number of education institutions to research and produce industrial hemp. With ARC support, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Allegany County in partnership with the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board, regional New York State Farm Bureau, and other local partners are developing an integrated economic development strategy to position southwestern New York as an industrial hemp cluster economy.  Included in the scope of work is research on storage, processing and marketing needs, and testing of different varieties of industrial hemp cultivars that will inform planting strategies for the region. The partnership is also planning for a Southern Tier Hemp Expo and Trade Show which will provide a networking opportunity for manufacturers, farmers and landowners interesting in the hemp industry.  Over the next two years, these efforts are anticipated to serve 60 businesses, create 12 new businesses, as well as create 60 jobs.

A recent study out of Washington State University revealed how chronic depression impacts the lives of rural mothers and their children. Mothers with chronic depression experience more physical health issues, while also distrusting the health professionals who would treat them. They also struggle to manage their children’s health, often exacerbated by the lack of childcare options and loss of employment. Dr. Yoshie Sano, the lead author of the study, explains that “there’s a huge stigma around mental health, especially in rural areas.” When rural mothers are depressed, their family and community are also affected. It is essential to support the physical and mental health of rural mothers.

A recent Health Affairs blog detailed the short-term consequences of the hospital price transparency rule, which requires hospitals to disclose standard prices for procedures. The blog asserts that the rule may have severe repercussions for reimbursement rates for rural hospitals who are already battling insufficient reimbursement. The transparency rules take away the hospital’s negotiating power with private payers, who often pay a higher price to recover losses from public programs. As a result, rural hospitals may continue to lose revenue. Forty-seven percent of rural hospitals already operate in negative margins, prior to the implementation of the hospital price transparency rule. The final rule is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2021.

This study from the Southwest Rural Health Research Center examines rural versus urban differences in how the U.S. is meeting the Healthy People 2020 mortality objectives for many of the leading causes of death. Overall, the findings indicate rural America is lagging behind urban America in achieving these objectives. Furthermore, key findings indicate men have been less likely than women to achieve these objectives, the rural South has seen less progress than other regions, and suicide mortality has increased across all levels of rurality.

The Congressional Research Service provides objective policy and legal analysis to committees and members of the U.S. House and Senate.  For this report, researchers provide an overview of five maternal health programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), including the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program, a pilot program that aims to improve access to services in rural areas.