After some issues at the start of the hemp plot programs in Kentucky, including a lengthy legal battle for their seeds, it seems the hemp crops have begun to flourish at a mind-blowing rate. The industrial hemp stalks have now grown from 6 feet to a whopping 16 feet in just two months. Officials are calling it a great sign for things to come and what could be a new cash crop for Kentucky.
Its exciting, University of Kentucky plant researcher David Williams said. Its new. It has potential. And so its very fun. Its a lot of fun to be involved in something thats new and potentially possible for Kentucky farmers. Williams plans to harvest the industrial hemp crop in Kentucky sometime in September and compare its growth to the 12 other varieties of hemp he has planted. I think we can grow larger plants with a full growing season, He said. We lost about a month. He believes if they hadnt run into all those issues with the Drug Enforcement Agency, (who held on to their seeds for a handful of weeks) the crop would be even taller at this point, let alone in September. Regardless, the late start hasnt changed much in their development, because theyre flourishing, and its exciting.
At another industrial hemp plot, Williams says he is very happy with his 7 to 8 foot plants, exclaiming, We did have one little dry spell after planting, but have not irrigated this crop, so its doing quite well, As you can read in hemp news, the crop doesnt take much to grow and maintain. Like a weed, it will virtually grow anywhere and in any type of soil. Williams also said he wishes to experiment with fertilizers and herbicides. This is just a baby step this yearIts a tiny, tiny ...
