Hemp Farming Could Be Big Business Soon In Connecticut

GUILFORD, CT - Less than two months after the state began accepting licenses under a new law, 65 licenses for 235 acres of hemp farming have already been approved.

The hemp growing law requires Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt to adopt regulations for an industrial hemp pilot program in accordance with federal law.

The pilot program will allow for farmers to study the growth, cultivation and marketing of industrial hemp in Connecticut. “There was a lot of energy and excitement around the opportunity for hemp, which is why it was so important for the legislature to move quickly on passing the bill,” Hurlburt said.

Last Friday state officials, Sen. Christine Cohen, D-Guilford, who is also co-chair of the Environment Committee and Killingworth First Selectwoman Catherine Iino got an up close at one of those locations - Running Brook Farms in Killingworth.

“This new industry presents a multitude of opportunities for businesses and farms across the state,” Cohen said. “It is encouraging to see farms, like Running Brook, taking advantage of this lucrative cash crop.

Cohen added: “Seeing the seedlings going into the ground for eventual sale and use generates an air of excitement and promise for these land owners and manufacturers. Ultimately, everyone in Connecticut reaps the benefits of this pro-farm, pro-business legislation.”

Killingworth’s Iino agreed and added that this new trade is great for her town.“Killingworth is committed to encouraging agriculture on its lands,” Iino said. Among the crops currently raised commercially in Killingworth are cranberries, lavender, mushrooms, and alpacas, and we are excited to have a hemp farm joining this array,” said Iino. “These diverse farms help to preserve the rural character that draws people to our beautiful town.”

Running Brook Farms consists of a greenhouse and full garden center. According to their website, their nursery contains the highest quality plant materials, ornamental grasses, specimen trees and shrubs.

They also offer design and construction services, specializing in landscape design, utility work, masonry, tree cutting, wetlands mitigation and more.

Running Brook Farms received the fourth hemp license in Connecticut and recently planted their first seeds.

The farm’s site manager, Becky Goetsch, said growing hemp is an amazing opportunity.“Having the opportunity to grow hemp is an exciting proposition on many levels,” said Goetsch. “As a business opportunity, it is phenomenal as hemp’s growing season is in total synergy with our existing nursery seasons, and will help relieve significant financial pressure due to competition from box stores.”

“On a personal level, it is rewarding to be part of a movement that can have such an enormous impact on both health care and our environment.,” Goetsch said. ”Getting this done this year is incredibly important as it gives us growers an entire season to work out the kinks, learn the plant, build the infrastructure for harvesting and processing, thereby positioning us for great success in the 2020 growing season.”

Hurlburt said Connecticut’s legislation will jumpstart the process and positions our state to reap the benefits of industrial hemp as soon as possible, first under the 2014 farm bill and ultimately under the 2018 farm bill once federal regulations have been established.

It is estimated that an acre of hemp could generate 500 to 1,500 pounds of dried flowers per acre, resulting in gross revenues of $37,500 to $150,000 per acre. The Hemp Industries Association notes that U.S. retail sales of hemp products totaled nearly $700 million in 2016. Though a classification of cannabis, unlike marijuana, hemp has no psychotropic effects. The tetrohydrocannabinol (THC) content is less than .3 percent in hemp and the plant is used for industrial purposes.

Textiles such as clothing, diapers, shoes, rope, canvas and tarps are all widely manufactured from the pulp of hemp. Paints, varnishes, fuel, insulation and solvents are also commonly made with the plants. Additionally, officials state a local hemp industry would fulfill a demand for locally produced CBD oil, which is currently being used in foods and personal care products, but also has medicinal uses such as alleviating some epileptic conditions.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a new medicine, Epidiolex, to treat seizures. It is the first FDA-approved plant-derived cannabinoid medicine.