Sunday, May 10, 2015

Ky. hemp production rising in second year of crop's comeback

Source: wlky.com

LEXINGTON, Ky. —Kentucky agriculture officials say the state's hemp production will surpass 1,700 acres this year as the crop's comeback starts to attract investment from processors looking to turn the once-banned crop into products.

One of those investors is Andy Graves, CEO of Atalo Holdings. Graves said Tuesday his company has invested $1.5 million in gearing up to process hemp into oil and food products.

Graves says his company will process nearly 550 acres of hemp this year at its facility in Clark County in central Kentucky.

State Agriculture Commissioner James Comer says 121 participants - including 24 processors - will be involved in the second year of testing hemp as a potential cash crop. He says 1,742 acres of hemp will be planted this year, up from 33 acres last year.


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