‘Pennsylvania: first local hemp crop is ready for harvest’
Aug. 19, 2017
lewistownsentinel.com
“…The hemp plant, like its sister the marijuana plant, is not a new crop to the country. In fact, according to the Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council it has been around for thousands of years, but the plants are different…
In 2014, the U.S. government passed the 2014 Farm Bill, which allowed the growing of hemp for pilot programs or for research. Frederico said in July 2016, Pennsylvania enacted Act 92 which allowed the research of the plant for economic potential and what the plant could offer the commonwealth…
…there are thousands of uses for the hemp plant and according to Erica McBride, of the Pennsylvania Hemp Industry council some products are already being used.
“Building materials, some plastic components, biofuels and food, the list goes on and on,” she explained during a seminar on Hemp’s potential in Pennsylvania during Penn State Ag Progress Days.
She said in Europe, hemp is being used in materials for homes and car parts.
According to the National Hemp Association, in 1941 Henry Ford created a plastic car which ran on hemp and other plant-based fuels and the fenders were made of hemp and other materials…
…Basically, McBride said there are more uses for the plant than the industry knows. However, she said, industry leaders know one thing.
“What we’re doing now to produce products is not sustainable,” McBride said. “We think this could make more products more sustainable and more environmentally friendly.”
…right now, we are glad to have a program supported by the state and the (U.S. Department of Agriculture). |
