Since 2020, Hemp farming licenses have been issued in 65 of Florida’s 67 Counties
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The signing of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill opened the door for hemp farming nationwide, bringing again a crop that was as soon as a long time in the past widely-farmed for a wide range of makes use of throughout the nation.
It took a few years to get the state program flushed out, however right here in Florida, they have been issuing hemp farming licenses for about two years. In that point, the new plant helped usher in a complete new sector of the agriculture business and in flip gave new hope to farmers.
“There’s one thing actually tangible about having the ability to put your palms in the filth and really work with a residing plant,” says Jammie Treadwell, co-owner of Treadwell Farms in Umatilla.
Treadwell comes from a protracted line of Florida farmers. “Over 100 years of agriculture expertise on each sides-everything from rising row crops like okra for the Campbell Soup Company to working the native grist mill up in the panhandle,” she defined.
After some intensive analysis, she and her dad Glen took a leap of religion to try to develop hemp, one thing, for all intents and functions, model new to the state.
“The more I learned about the plant and all its variety of uses, and how we could take our skills and experience and apply it into something that would help extend Florida’s agriculture into the next phase with a new crop. It just became about learning as much as we can so that we could participate,” says Treadwell.
It’s at Treadwell Farms in Lake County, the place relics of citrus farming previous are now being repurposed to farm that new crop.
In two years, they constructed a useful farm and processing facility, harvesting hemp a number of instances a 12 months and creating merchandise like CBD lotions, tinctures and gummies all made in Florida.
Treadwell thinks they are simply scratching the floor in what varieties of merchandise may very well be manufactured utilizing the plant.
Since 2020 the state has issued greater than 800 hemp cultivation permits, discovered in 65 of Florida’s 67 counties. 30,000 acres of land has been authorised for rising hemp.
“It’s been a challenge, but it’s been fun,” says Treadwell, who notes that typical struggles with an inherently onerous commerce like farming are nonetheless current, on prime of a flooded provide of CBD merchandise which have made issues difficult, although she believes the tides are turning on the latter.
Treadwell additionally thinks this new crop is bringing new hope to the state’s farmers, calling right here expertise of working with different upstart hemp farmers, “rewarding.”
“I’m a lifelong Floridian. I want to see us grow and develop our communities. But I don’t want agriculture left out. I think all of us lose if everything is a housing development, and there aren’t still local farms where we can get local food and products, including hemp,” says Treadwell.
The state of Florida requires various exams to make sure these hemp crops, CBD merchandise and infused meals are secure and never intoxicating.
You can inform if the product you are trying to purchase has been grown and examined right here if it is sporting a “Fresh from Florida” sticker.