The state of Illinois continues to put Hemp in the News this week, as farmers wait for government approval to grow industrial hemp.
Profits for Illinois farmers have plummeted, with the dropping prices on corn and soybeans. State lawmakers see hemp as a profitable alternative to these failing crops.
The recent unanimous Senate vote for industrial hemp legalisation now awaits approval from the House committee. This approval will allow farmers to obtain a license to grow from the Department of Agriculture. There are many benefits to hemp as a crop, such as its short growing cycle, its tall yield, low maintenance, and its ability to squeeze out weeds.
Rebecca Osland of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, says not only will the legalisation of hemp provide farmers with a new crop that can provide additional revenue, the plant is also great for the soil.
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