Want to know how to get on the hemp train? Here’s a class

By J.D. Walker
Source: courier-tribune.com

There was a time when vineyards were a rarity in North Carolina.

There was a time when no one ever considered growing acres of poinsettias under plastic.

There was a time when no one wasted time thinking about growing hemp.

Times change.

Hemp is getting a lot of buzz these days. Since the state legislature authorized a pilot program for the commercial production of hemp, more growers are giving hemp a second look. If you’ve wondered about the possibilities of becoming a hemp grower, Chatham County Cooperative Extension has a class for you.

The Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension will offer an industrial hemp workshop as part of its Enhancing Sustainability Series from 6-9 p.m. on Monday, March 19, at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro. N.C. State University Hemp specialists will be joined by a panel of hemp growers, processors and other stakeholders for the program.

Information will be provided on industrial hemp production, national and state regulations, applying for the North Carolina industrial hemp pilot program, 2017 research findings and insight into the growing state industry for 2018.

Hemp is in the Cannabis family of plants. However, the state restrictions only allow for the production of plants that have less than three-tenths of 1 percent of the psychotropic agent that gives marijuana its, um, shall we say, recreational appeal.

The state is interested in the potential of hemp as a source for “cloth, cordage, fiber, food, fuel, paint, paper, particleboard, plastics, seed, seed meal and seed oil for consumption.”

Most recently, researchers with N.C. State University announced the promising possibilities of using hemp oil seed by-products as fodder for chickens and other livestock.

The upcoming seminar is one of several being held around the state. Advance registration is required for this workshop. The cost is $15 and includes a meal. Call 919-542-8244 or email Debbie Roos if you have any questions.

The deadline to register is March 14.

To register online, visit https://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/2018/02/register-now-for-extensions-industrial-hemp-workshop/.

If you would like to do a little research on hemp production in North Carolina before attending the workshop, visit https://industrialhemp.ces.ncsu.edu/.