Officials in West Virginia have announced the timeline within which farmers who intend to grow industrial hemp during the 2020 seasons can apply to be licensed. The application period will start on September 1 and end on September 30.
Those who wish to apply during this window should expect a bit of a queue since the number of growers is expected to rise significantly. For example, in 2017 when the pilot program was still running, only 24 farmers grew hemp. However, that number rose to 170 in 2019 and is likely to rise much higher in 2020.
In order to increase your chances of getting a license, it is advisable to submit your application when you have a detailed plan.
For example, that plan should include where you plan to get your hemp seed from. Prospective farmers should note that there are many varieties of hemp, so the seed you procure should be suitable for the end products you expect to be obtained from your crop. The hemp grown for CBD extraction differs from the variety grown for grain, for example.
Your plan should also include how you intend to grow your crop. The details in this section could cover whether you plan to grow the crop organically or not (and whether you have organic certification if you intend to grow the plants organically). You can also include details on what type of mulch you plan to use (straw, biodegradable plastic or disposable plastic, for example).
You should also remember to include how you will harvest the industrial hemp, and where you will sell it. For example, are you a contract farmer growing your crop for a particular processor? How did that buyer advise you to harvest the crop once it matures?
You also need to do some background checks on yourself and include this information when you submit your hemp cultivation license application. For example, farmers may need to run a state and federal background check.
While many farmers are focusing their attention on the CBD market, it may be wise to look beyond CBD and explore other potential uses. Diversifying the market one is looking to supply will ensure that one’s cultivation operation remains profitable for years to come. For example, the fiber production potential of hemp has not yet been tapped.
Hemp industry watchers believe that industry actors like Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) and Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTCQB: MCOA) could be watching how farmers respond to the cultivation licensing process in order to gauge whether their manufacturing and processing plans will be realized.
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