Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Dawson Springs - Hemp. It's the material from which Betsy Ross constructed the first American Flag in 1776. Yet, the crop has seen its fair share of ups and downs since the turn of the 18th century.
In 1850, around 40,000 tons of hemp were grown in the commonwealth, far surpassing any other U.S. state. Its uses were widespread, and included making rope, textiles, fabrics and even food.
Despite its extensive use for making rope during World War II in 1937, hemp prohibition began.
The 2014 Federal Farm Bill began to change things for the crop, which had become widely vilified due to its confusion with marijuana. The bill permits industrial hemp pilot programs in states where the law allows.
Hemp, by federal regulation, must contain less than .3 percent THC, which is the mind-altering substance found in marijuana.
On Thursday, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture announced it has approved 209 applications to cultivate up to 12,800 acres of industrial hemp for research purposes this year.
That's nearly triple the number of acres approved in 2016.
Kentucky Hemp Works owner Katie Moyer, of Dawson Springs, said her company, which produces hemp oil, protein, salve, lip balm and fire starters, is looking to grow.
"We are hoping to expand and work with some other farmers," Moyer said. "We have 100 acres we know are going to be in the ground, and potentially another 100-200."
Moyer added that there has been a lot of interest lately in hemp, and sales are looking good.
"We are testing the waters," she said. "Everything is very market-driven at this point. While we do have a lot of people buying our salves and lip balms individually, we're getting a lot more interest from other companies who are looking to incorporate hemp into their products. We're selling a lot of bulk product just in raw materials."
The company was recently approved to add more products to their lineup, including lotions, marinades and baking mixes.
Hemp protein and oil have often been referred to as the perfect food due in part to their healthy ratios of omega fatty acids and other nutrients.
Moyer, who is also a field representative for Gov. Matt Bevin, said some recent changes have positively affected the pilot program in the commonwealth.
"When (Kentucky) Commissioner (of Agriculture Ryan) Quarles came in, he changed the Memorandum of Understanding process for processors so that they can be approved for a five-year MOU," she said. "That's a very welcome change for processors who need to be confident that they'll be a part of the program in the years to follow when they are looking to make an investment in equipment.
"The other big change we are really excited to see is the ag department opening up the farming application to include more people," she continued. "Essentially, they are looking at all of the application information very objectively. If you have a farm and you've got the capacity to produce hemp, you are basically a shoe-in to be approved."
Moyer said the KDA is giving farmers willing to take a risk the ability to experiment with the crop.
"It opens things up to a lot of new and smaller farmers," she said. "What we hope is that it will include a lot of young people who are enticed by hemp to get involved in agriculture. We need a lot more young farmers. That is definitely a goal."
One of the administrative roles of the KDA in the hemp farming process, Moyer added, is testing to ensure crops are free of THC.
"They come out to farms and set up times with farmers to take samples," she said. "It's under KDA control from the farm to the lab.
"Another change KDA made is charging fees for the farms and the processors," Moyer continued. "That will help to offset the cost of coming out, collecting samples and sending them to the lab."
Quarles said Thursday in a written statement that the KDA hopes to attract more processors to the state by tripling hemp acreage.
"Our strategy is to use KDA's research pilot program to encourage the industrial hemp industry to expand and prosper in Kentucky," Quarles said. "Although it is not clear when Congress might act to remove industrial hemp from the list of controlled substances, my strategic objective is to position the commonwealth's growers and processors to ultimately prevail as national leaders in industrial hemp production."
GPS coordinates of potential growing sites are required on all applications to grow the crop. Coordinates of approved sites are provided to law enforcement agencies before hemp is planted.
"We have made collaboration and communication with the law enforcement community a top priority for KDA's management of this research pilot program," Quarles said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Kentucky Hemp Cultivation Set To Triple This Year
Author: Jenny Lee Menser
Contact: 1-270-824-3300
Photo Credit: Eli Pace
Website: The Messenger
In 1850, around 40,000 tons of hemp were grown in the commonwealth, far surpassing any other U.S. state. Its uses were widespread, and included making rope, textiles, fabrics and even food.
Despite its extensive use for making rope during World War II in 1937, hemp prohibition began.
The 2014 Federal Farm Bill began to change things for the crop, which had become widely vilified due to its confusion with marijuana. The bill permits industrial hemp pilot programs in states where the law allows.
Hemp, by federal regulation, must contain less than .3 percent THC, which is the mind-altering substance found in marijuana.
On Thursday, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture announced it has approved 209 applications to cultivate up to 12,800 acres of industrial hemp for research purposes this year.
That's nearly triple the number of acres approved in 2016.
Kentucky Hemp Works owner Katie Moyer, of Dawson Springs, said her company, which produces hemp oil, protein, salve, lip balm and fire starters, is looking to grow.
"We are hoping to expand and work with some other farmers," Moyer said. "We have 100 acres we know are going to be in the ground, and potentially another 100-200."
Moyer added that there has been a lot of interest lately in hemp, and sales are looking good.
"We are testing the waters," she said. "Everything is very market-driven at this point. While we do have a lot of people buying our salves and lip balms individually, we're getting a lot more interest from other companies who are looking to incorporate hemp into their products. We're selling a lot of bulk product just in raw materials."
The company was recently approved to add more products to their lineup, including lotions, marinades and baking mixes.
Hemp protein and oil have often been referred to as the perfect food due in part to their healthy ratios of omega fatty acids and other nutrients.
Moyer, who is also a field representative for Gov. Matt Bevin, said some recent changes have positively affected the pilot program in the commonwealth.
"When (Kentucky) Commissioner (of Agriculture Ryan) Quarles came in, he changed the Memorandum of Understanding process for processors so that they can be approved for a five-year MOU," she said. "That's a very welcome change for processors who need to be confident that they'll be a part of the program in the years to follow when they are looking to make an investment in equipment.
"The other big change we are really excited to see is the ag department opening up the farming application to include more people," she continued. "Essentially, they are looking at all of the application information very objectively. If you have a farm and you've got the capacity to produce hemp, you are basically a shoe-in to be approved."
Moyer said the KDA is giving farmers willing to take a risk the ability to experiment with the crop.
"It opens things up to a lot of new and smaller farmers," she said. "What we hope is that it will include a lot of young people who are enticed by hemp to get involved in agriculture. We need a lot more young farmers. That is definitely a goal."
One of the administrative roles of the KDA in the hemp farming process, Moyer added, is testing to ensure crops are free of THC.
"They come out to farms and set up times with farmers to take samples," she said. "It's under KDA control from the farm to the lab.
"Another change KDA made is charging fees for the farms and the processors," Moyer continued. "That will help to offset the cost of coming out, collecting samples and sending them to the lab."
Quarles said Thursday in a written statement that the KDA hopes to attract more processors to the state by tripling hemp acreage.
"Our strategy is to use KDA's research pilot program to encourage the industrial hemp industry to expand and prosper in Kentucky," Quarles said. "Although it is not clear when Congress might act to remove industrial hemp from the list of controlled substances, my strategic objective is to position the commonwealth's growers and processors to ultimately prevail as national leaders in industrial hemp production."
GPS coordinates of potential growing sites are required on all applications to grow the crop. Coordinates of approved sites are provided to law enforcement agencies before hemp is planted.
"We have made collaboration and communication with the law enforcement community a top priority for KDA's management of this research pilot program," Quarles said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Kentucky Hemp Cultivation Set To Triple This Year
Author: Jenny Lee Menser
Contact: 1-270-824-3300
Photo Credit: Eli Pace
Website: The Messenger
