b'h HEMP / PATH FORWARDnot really sure about Aside from the CBDthis. We are not going boom, analyststo get out of the gate say farmers have awithout having those real reason to growproblems solved.hemp.Some experts have suggested production Theres a need to spurcould reach 50 million agricultures commod- acres. But were not ity markets forward,near there. Bowman and hemp might be ahopes to see acreage trigger. reach 1 million.There are eco- Some activ-nomic reasons theists have created an United States shouldirrational exuberance be involved in hempabout where we are markets, Stark says.today, he says. We Growers have beenare at the starting gate. struggling, and itsNow the hard work of gotten worse withinfrastructure, market soybean tariffs. Hempdevelopment and could fit the bill.branding begins.Latner believesLatner agrees.because commod- Looking back, it is ity prices are low andnot speculation to say farmers arent makingthat new technology money, theyre anxiouswill develop to make to try something new. hemp a major crop, Stark says hempLatner says. It doesnt could even rival soy- mean it will be easy.bean production.Some people will Hemp wontgo out of business. replace any otherThere will be bumps crop, but itll fit intoin the road and prices a good rotation withwill fluctuate, but that other crops, she says.is the path of American Hemp, as it grows,agriculture.should bring up theHe adds that land-market of soy. grant universities have Hemp is morean incredible infra-nutritious than soy, andstructure of agricultural you can use it in similarresearch and Extension ways. You can maketo test new varieties, hemp milk like soy milk;production processes, you can use the seedharvesting and pro-cake in baking powdercessing.and proteins; and even- All of the major tually, it would makerow crops and many good animal feed. Inspecialty crops have my mind, hemp is moreof the 2018 Farm Bill,Bowman says theseWe must get insur- benefited from this versatile than soy, butindustrial hemp is nowprograms are essentialance and banking ininfrastructure, Latner not a replacement. eligible for all USDAbefore farmers canplace, he says. Thesays. Hemp will ben-With the passageprograms.really jump in. banking community isefit too.SW34/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2019'