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Growers in Kansas Try Their Hand at Industrial Hemp
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Farmers across Kansas are experimenting with industrial hemp – Cannabis sativa plants with less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. This bill enabled the growth and production of the crop in pilot programs under the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state departments of agriculture.
Although there’s still much to learn, many growers are already finding success with what just might be a new cash crop for Kansas.
Taking Root
In 2019, the first year Kansas farmers could obtain licenses for the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Industrial Hemp Research Program, 213 growers’ licenses were issued for approximately 5,700 acres. Each license allowed farmers to grow 80 acres of industrial hemp, but farmers could obtain multiple licenses in order to grow additional acres.
According to Jeff Vogel, program manager for the KDA’s Plant Protection and Weed Control program, about 2,700 acres of industrial hemp were actually planted in 2019 and reports indicate that 1,755 acres were harvested. He says approximately 90% of participating farmers grew hemp for floral production with the purpose of extracting cannabidiol (CBD), while the other 10% of participants grew hemp for fiber, seed or a combination of the two.
“The results we’re seeing are pretty common across the U.S.,” Vogel says. “Some growers couldn’t find seed in time to plant, for example, or their crops failed, which is all part of the process as we learn more about industrial hemp and how to produce it.”
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Vogel emphasizes that learning is an important and necessary step for growers looking to add industrial hemp into their crop rotation. He points to valuable information that’s already surfaced – including the realization that hemp cannot germinate if it’s planted as deeply in soil as crops like corn or soybeans, and the possible pollination problem of endemic ditch weed for farmers growing floral hemp for CBD.
“At KDA, we’ve seen lifelong farmers as well as those who are fairly new to agriculture show a big interest in industrial hemp, and I think everyone has learned a great deal so far,” Vogel says. “The people who participated in the 2019 Industrial Hemp Research Program saw a mix of successes and failures, and there’s no doubt the information they gathered is going to help this industry grow and improve.”
A Bright Future
That information is already being put to use, with Vogel reporting approximately 200 farmers licensed to grow industrial hemp in 2020 to date. He says about 40% of those farmers are new applicants to the KDA’s Industrial Hemp Research Program, which means more than half of the growers who participated in 2019 have returned – a good sign, Vogel says.
Another good sign: Each license issued in 2020 allows Kansas growers to plant as many as 320 acres of industrial hemp, giving farmers more opportunities to experiment with growing techniques and discover the best ways to maximize profits.
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Jason Griffin, director of the John C. Pair Horticulture Center at Kansas State University, encourages growers to take advantage of this opportunity, but he recommends they consider contracting with a buyer before making large investments in industrial hemp and ensure they understand the measures required for the crop to flourish, depending on its desired use.
“If you’re growing hemp for fiber or seed, it’s an agronomy crop,” Griffin says. “However, if you’re growing hemp for CBD, it’s a horticulture crop. The two are completely different: the varieties are different, the way you produce them is different and the way you harvest them is different. It’s important that growers understand these differences very well before getting started if they want to succeed and make a profit.”