Source: bgdailynews.com
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has received 326 applications from people interested in growing hemp for this year's industrial hemp pilot projects, a state agriculture official said this afternoon.
Speaking at a meeting of the Bowling Green Noon Rotary Club, Warren Beeler, director of Agriculture Policy for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, said that a market appears to be ready-made to buy products that can be made from hemp, which was legalized for test production in the state last year after decades of it being an illegal crop.
Western Kentucky University was one of a number of state universities that participated in pilot programs last year, growing hemp for research purposes.
Beeler said that he is intrigued at the many uses for the crop, which can be used to produce paper, rope and other items. Hempseed oil has also been touted by some for its potential health benefits.
Broad challenges for hemp going forward include fitting it into a state farming economy crowded with tobacco, corn and soybean crops and getting the general public to distinguish hemp from marijuana, its more potent and illegal related crop, Beeler said.
"I've never seen anything quite like the demand side (for hemp)," Beeler said. "It's all about finding a farming level for it and figuring out can we profit and how does it fit in."
No comments:
Post a Comment