Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds this week signed into law the bill that allows licensed growers to cultivate industrial hemp on up to 40 acres. Iowa Hemp Association Founder Dr. Christopher Disbro is excited about the opportunity for the state’s farmers who he hopes can begin growing the crop during the 2020 planting season. He says there’s definitely a market for industrial hemp which can be used in several products.
He says food and fiber isn’t the only market for industrial hemp as long term there are several other potential opportunities.
Disbro says the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land stewardship will now work on developing a plan for the growing of hemp and submit it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Disbro says once up and running, industrial hemp can be grown by farmers as a third crop in rotation with corn and soybeans. Industrial hemp could grow nationally to be a $1.9 billion market by 2022.
