USDA And Pennsylvania Officials Host Hemp Farmers At Event Promoting Industry Innovation

“One of the biggest problems is the lack of investment in this industry. So we have to de-risk it.”

By Anthony Hennen, The Center Square

A circle of farmers in Pennsylvania have embraced hemp as state and federal money encourages growth of the industry.

With government support, farmers troubleshoot how hemp plays a role in the production of textiles, paper, automotive bio-composites and construction projects.

The need, advocates argue, lies in more research funding and building new markets in the commonwealth to support the crop.

“We really don’t know what varieties will grow best in Pennsylvania,” Geoff Whaling, chairman of the National Hemp Association, said. “We’re still going to be researching all of this and we need to attract capital, public money.”

Whaling was one of dozens who gathered Thursday at Coexist Build, an organic farm and architecture firm in Blandon, Berks County, to discuss hemp in Pennsylvania.

Co-hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development program, the event brought together the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Penn State University, Thomas Jefferson University and several state officials and private businesses to figure out how to grow a bio-based economy—from farming to manufacturing and technology.

The bureaucratic

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