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Hemp has potential and challenges ahead

Hemp is gaining popularity with growers across the Midwest, but the crop has challenges that need to be addressed.

Jeff Limbaugh with Midwest Natural Fiber says he believes hemp will eventually become a standard row crop product with great sustainability potential.

But he tells Brownfield the crop needs a lot of work starting with seed technology.

“The genetics of corn and beans and wheat and everything it’s made it where it’s yielding better, you know, better germinations, making it where the farmer can produce more with it; the hemp has not,” Limbaugh said.

Limbaugh said hemp seed development has been paused for the last 40 years and research into the crop needs to be accelerated. He says hemp processing is another issue that needs to be addressed.

“Mainly the technology and stuff is internationally but we’re trying to bring all that right in here locally now,” he said.

Limbaugh said Midwest Natural Fiber is working with several universities to develop solutions to the crop’s challenges. Limbaugh presented at the Show Me Hemp Conference in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Jeff Limbaugh Interview

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