Hemp must be embraced

Our state and local governments must be made aware of the possibilities of food, fuel, and fiber provided by the noble hemp plant.

Research from around the globe tells us that we in the United States are making a huge mistake by not getting on board the lucrative hemp industry train for nutritious foods, fuel to keep us warm along with the use of hemp’s inner core, the hurd, for insulation. Too, we can use the outer core fiber to give us stylish clothing. Locally sourced hemp can be a farmer’s savior.

This year Hemp History Week will be celebrated June 5-12. To encourage farmers to grow this endlessly versatile crop, it should be noted that the U.S. hemp market grew by an incredible 25 percent in 2016 – to $130 million, a 100 percent increase over 2015.

Conclusion: There is a constantly growing hemp market in our country. We import 60 percent of the world’s hemp, but, ironically, have no hemp industry of our own. There is, however, tightly controlled hemp legislation which enables some colleges and universities to research the growing of the hemp product.

To encourage farmers to become involved with this research there is reasoning in regenerative agriculture that puts farming of such a valuable crop in order:

•Its long taproot helps mitigate erosion and can remediate poor soil.

•As a rotation crop hemp can break disease cycles.

•Hemp grows incredibly fast, making it very efficient at atmospheric carbon sequestration.

•Hemp requires no chemi- cals to grow, therefore it neither contaminates the environment nor destroys the soil-food web.

Farmers, higher learning institutions, and legislators must work hand in hand to bring the hemp industry back to commercial prominence in the U.S.

Earl Callahan, New Berlin