Organic Hemp Research at Kentucky State University

Industrial hemp is a fiber, oil and seed crop with a 5,000 year history of cultivation. It was first planted in Kentucky in 1775, and Kentucky's Bluegrass region was the center of the US hemp industry through much of the 1800s. Kentucky's hemp industry declined rapidly in the late 1800s, recovered briefly during the two world wars, and virtually disappeared by the late 1940s. Contributing factors to the decline included competition from cheaper imported fibers like jute, manila, and sisal; falling costs of domestic cotton production; and increased regulation. Hemp production was restricted by the federal Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which required hemp growers, importers, and processors to be registered and taxed. The Controlled Substance Act of 1970 made hemp a controlled substance under Federal Law, with production regulated by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Kentucky is one of several states to have legalized the cultivation and research of industrial hemp. The 2014 Farm Bill allows State Agriculture Departments, colleges and universities to grow hemp for academic or agricultural research purposes in states, where it is legal under state law. Kentucky State University is evaluating hemp variety trials on certified organic land, to determine yield and competitiveness of hemp varieties that show promise for certified organic production on small farms in Kentucky. The objectives of the current hemp research at KSU are to: 1) compare yield and quality parameters of four hemp varieties grown on certified organic land and 2) evaluate hemp's ability to compete with johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense).