Hemp forum spreads knowledge of recently legalized crop
Nebraska farmers are learning more about a newly-legalized crop that could help them diversify their operation.
By News Channel NebraskaDE WITT, NE — Nebraska farmers are learning more about a newly-legalized crop that could help them diversify their operation.
Cortland-based Heartland Hemp Association hosted a Hemp Harvest Forum in rural De Witt on Friday. Director Colin Fury says hemp has a bright future in Nebraska.
“It’s something that everyone from the small farmer to the large farmer can diversify into quite simply. The prices if you have a good finished product are far outdoing beans and corn.”
After being fully banned in the 1970s, Nebraska legalized hemp again in 2019. The law says hemp must have a THC concentration of less than 0.3%. THC is the psychoactive chemical in marijuana.
HempConsultants.com founder Derek Kats says they’re using test plots like the ones at Kracke Farms to study the plant.
“We’re really trying to figure out where THC spikes come from in Nebraska elements and seeing what we can do to eradicate that.”
Fury says about 85 Nebraska farmers have hemp licenses so far. He says growing it is a different style than what farmers are used to.
“There’s no such thing at this time as Roundup ready hemp. It’s very labor intensive. You’re going to be out in the field pulling weeds and trying to make sure that nothing is competing for nutrients with your hemp.”
Hemp is grown in one to five acre plots at this point. Kats says his team is working to bring it to a bigger scale.
“A lot of this has been horticulture style and we’re turning it into agronomic style. So, bringing in equipment, bringing in large scale fields is going to be one of our biggest focuses.”
A similar forum is planned for October 14th at Gottwald Farms near Nebraska City.
Hemp Consultants is based in Lincoln and is opening an office in Wilber.