Last week the Nebraska Legislature’s Ag Committee approved LB 657 and sent it to the floor of the Unicameral. The measure would allow the growing, processing and marketing of industrial hemp. State Farm Bureau Government Relations Director Ashley Mick says her group backs the bill.

She says the legislation requires that growers work with State Department of Agriculture Certified Labs to be able to grow the crop.

Mick says if the measure gets full approval, having the new crop should be beneficial to growers who’ve been under economic stress with the low commodity prices.

Mick expects the legislation to come up for consideration in a couple of weeks.