Kentucky’s industrial hemp program has experienced tremendous growth in just a few short years. In 2014 farmers planted 33 acres; in 2015 over 900 acres were planted; in 2016 over 2,300 acres were planted; in 2017 more than 3,200 acres were planted; in 2018 growers planted 6,700 acres. 

The passage of the Farm Bill in 2018 made it legal to grow industrial hemp in all 50 states. In 2019, Kentucky farmers planted more than 26,500 acres of hemp. There was a great deal of interest in growing hemp, and there were more questions than answers about this “new crop”.

The ANR Agent of the Monroe Co. Cooperative Extension organized an Industrial Hemp Field Day to help educate the public on industrial hemp. The event was held on 9-23-2019 at the ANR Agent’s farm. There was a three acre demonstration plot of hemp that attendees were able to view. Approximately one acre was being grown on white plastic and irrigated with drip tape; one acre under black plastic and irrigated with drip tape; and one acre was planted in a conventional seedbed and was not irrigated.

Three individuals gave presentations: Warren Beeler, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, spoke about the emerging marketing issues. Dr. Bob Pearce, UK Hemp Specialist, covered production and economic topics. Doris Hamilton, KDA Hemp Program Manager, spoke about the permitting process for potential hemp growers.

The hemp field day was a collaboration with the Mammoth Cave ANR Agents; Monroe Co. Farm Bureau; and the Monroe Co. Conservation District. Approximately 225 people attended from all over south-central Kentucky. For most attendees, it was their first opportunity to actually see hemp up close being grown in the field. They gained valuable knowledge that will help them make their own decision on potentially growing hemp in the future.