Saturday, August 2, 2025
62.1 F
Beckley
More

    Hemp production in West Virginia quadrupled in 2019

    Industrial hemp farmers in West Virginia more than quadrupled crop production in 2019 compared to the previous year, according to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.

    Advertisement

    This year, 132 farmers grew 641 acres of industrial hemp, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt—a significant increase from the 155 acres grown in 2018.

    “We must be doing something right in West Virginia for the number of growers and acreage to increase this dramatically," Leonhardt said. "In just a few years, we have gone from 24 growers, focused solely on research, to a thriving economic opportunity for our state.

    “We want West Virginia to be known as an ideal location to tap into this emerging industry. Clearly, we are well on our way to that goal.”

    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement

    Building on the success of 2019, the number of applicants for the 2020 growing season has more than doubled, he said.

    As of October 1, 2019, 407 applications have been submitted for approval to the state's industrial hemp program, and officials say the number should increase as final submissions come into the department.

    Leonhardt says he now hopes to grow the economy by establishing processing facilities within the state.

    "The next step for us is to figure out is how to keep all this raw material being grown within our borders by converting the plant material into usable supplements, fibers, fuels, and other products," he said.

    Advertisement

    "To continue to develop this industry, we need to pair processors with producers.”

    On December 20, 2018, President Donald Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill, which included a provision to legalize the commercial cultivation of industrial hemp.

    The bill removed industrial hemp from the list of federally controlled substances while clarifying industrial hemp producers may participate in U.S. Department of Agriculture programs.

    The USDA is expected to issue rules and guidelines sometime this fall. Oversight to regulate cultivation will continue to rest with individual state departments of agriculture upon approval by USDA. State pilot projects are to operate under existing rules until that time.

    Advertisement

    https://wvexplorer.com/2019/02/07/legendary-valley-of-skull-run-steeped-in-pioneer-lore/


    Sign up to receive a FREE copy of West Virginia Explorer Magazine in your email weekly. Sign me up!
    Clyde Craig
    Clyde Craighttp://wvexplorer.com
    Clyde Craig is a writer for West Virginia Explorer. Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, he traveled with his family across the globe with the U.S. Army before returning to the Mountain State in 2011.

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Hot this week

    Unique northern panhandle of West Virginia created by historic dispute

    WEIRTON, W.Va — West Virginia's remarkable shape is partly...

    August in West Virginia: When mountain customs come home

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — August in West Virginia is a...

    Wild and Wonderful: A journey through West Virginia’s most beautiful places

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There's a reason West Virginia is...

    Historic West Virginia heat waves and how the state can recover its coolness

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While known for its forests and...

    West Virginia to host first-ever Spartan Trifecta World Championship in the U.S.

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia will make history in...

    Topics

    Related Articles

    Popular Categories