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US Kansas: America's First Industrial Hemp Classes For Farmers
Part of the new US Farm Bill approved in Congress makes industrial hemp legal across the country
By: Alex Meachum
December 28, 2018
Kansas - Part of the new US Farm Bill approved in Congress makes industrial hemp legal across the country.
Nick Starling shows us the classes now offered to help farmers learn about growing industrial hemp.
This is America's Hemp Academy, the first of its kind in our area where future hemp farmers can come here and learn the nuts and bolts of the crop that's used for thousands of different purposes including the flour that's in this cookie.
"This is right up our ally, it's going to give our family a new opportunity," said Margit Kaltenekker-Hall, future hemp farmer.
This field of opportunity is exactly what farmer Kaltenekker-Hall needs.
"We had a very successful oriental greenhouse business and then 2009 recession knocked that out, pretty much from right under our feet," Kaltenekker-Hall said.
She hopes growing hemp will turn their family's fortunes around.
"This has potential for our family to restore some of the productivity of this incredibly fertile soil," Kaltenekker-Hall said.
She's one of 12 farmers who already tried out the America's hemp academy.
"The amount of product from one seed is mind-boggling," said Jo Bisogno, founder and CEO of America's Hemp Academy.
Founder Jo Bisogno says he see this as Kansas's next big crop.
"I see an industry that's been around for 100's of years that went away now coming back," Bisogno said.
Bisogno says the demand for these classes is high-as they teach everything from seed to sale and connect them with suppliers.
Farmers say hemp is not as easy to grow as other crops.
"It is a very difficult, delicate plant and so it's not something you're just going to put in the ground and forget about it, it's going to require a lot of attention," said Ron Keith, Shawnee.
Shawnee farmer Ron Keith hopes to start planting in April.
"I have trees in my fields now so converting some of these tree farms into hemp farms is what I'm looking at," Keith said.
While it's not a new crop-they hope hemp's restored presence will mean more green in their wallets.
"Now that we can grow it again here, it has huge potential," Kaltenekker-Hall said.
Classes start on January 14.
Appleton, WI Greenhouse To Grow Industrial Hemp
It's industrial hemp, and it's growing in popularity in Wisconsin. And after an experimental growing season, an Appleton greenhouse is now making room to meet the expected demand.
by Eric Peterson, FOX 11 News
December 4, 2018 (WLUK/Eric Peterson)
APPLETON, Wis. (WLUK) -- It looks like marijuana, but it's not.
It's industrial hemp, and it's growing in popularity in Wisconsin.
And after an experimental growing season, an Appleton greenhouse is now making room to meet the expected demand.
For nearly a century, Memorial Florists & Greenhouses has grown plants of all kinds, but a new look at an old variety has president Bob Aykens very interested.
"They came in as cuttings, and they're in the process of being rooted and propagated," said Aykens, the business's president.
Aykens says through a lease agreement with Colorado-based company Front Range Biosciences, a 15,000 square foot greenhouse will soon grow hemp.
"Our production plan says 250,000 clones will go out of here for next spring," he said.
The greenhouse will be fitted with lights, a network of nozzles will spray the plants on a regular basis. Farmers will place their orders, and the hemp will be delivered from the bio-secure area to the producers in the field.
"I think to have that ability for a farmer to come in, and have the confidence of what they're planting, is is going to succeed, and prosper here in the state," said Rob Richard, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Senior Director of Governmental Relations.
Richard represents hemp farmers around the state. He says last year, there were more than 200 licensed producers. He calls the first season a success, and expects that number to grow.
Aykens agrees. He says a quarter of a million hemp plants is a good start.
"That probably won't meet the demand, I'm going to guess. But we'll be looking at expanding upon what those needs are, once we know what they are," said Aykens.
Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture Trade, and Consumer Protection oversees the hemp industry.
Industrial hemp licensing applications are available for the 2019 season. You have until the end of the year to apply.