First new hemp harvest in Illinois brings mixed results

Nov 12, 2019 at 08:56 AM CST
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois farmers completed their first hemp harvest in recent history. The passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 opened the door for legalized hemp production in all 50 states, with farmers in the Prairie State planting the crop within the past year. Chris Berry, chief of operations for the Illinois Hemp Growers Association, said the harvest was what those who had a realistic perspective on cultivating hemp thought it would be. “A lot of farmers that started growing hemp were growing hemp as the first crop they’ve ever grown,” he said. “Even one that has experience in farming didn’t know what to expect.”

Nov 12, 2019 at 08:56 AM CST

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois farmers completed their first hemp harvest in recent history. The passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 opened the door for legalized hemp production in all 50 states, with farmers in the Prairie State planting the crop within the past year. Chris Berry, chief of operations for the Illinois Hemp Growers Association, said the harvest was what those who had a realistic perspective on cultivating hemp thought it would be. “A lot of farmers that started growing hemp were growing hemp as the first crop they’ve ever grown,” he said. “Even one that has experience in farming didn’t know what to expect.”