Activists are happy about the prospect of growing industrial hemp in Oregon, but local farmers aren’t as excited.
Activists are happy about the prospect of growing industrial hemp in Oregon, but local farmers aren’t as excited.
“I don’t think anyone’s even considering it at this point,” said Russ Karow, chair of the Crop and Soil Science Department at Oregon State University.
There doesn’t appear to be any lingering concern that industrial hemp will be confused with its illegal cousin, marijuana. Instead, Oregon farmers will be looking at the balance sheet, not the rap sheet. With wheat prices decent and grass seed on the rebound, large conventional operators aren’t interested. Other farmers would need answers to questions about irrigation, harvest equipment and market infrastructure.
Read more at Capital Press.
