Monday, the Iowa Senate voted 49 to 1 to advance legislation to authorize the growing of industrial hemp. Iowa Farmers Union members back the measure. President Aaron Lehman says it would give producers another crop they could grow.

He says if the full measure is approved and signed producers need to be cautious before growing the crop and make sure they have a marketing outlet available.

Lehman says even though industrial hemp was legalized in the last farm bill, there’s still details that need to be worked out nationally for it to work going forward.

Neighboring states have been taking up the industrial hemp issue. Nebraska state lawmakers are currently considering their own hemp bill. South Dakota lawmakers passed a bill which was vetoed by the Governor. Now a summer study committee will take a deeper look at it.