About 200 people — many of them farmers — met in Vernon, Connecticut, Wednesday night to learn how to grow hemp.
The state launched a pilot program earlier this summer for farmers interested in growing the crop. A federal rule change last year allowing states to grow hemp.
The state Department of Agriculture and the University of Connecticut hosted the event.
“You know, the goal is, in the end, this is a great crop for the farmers. And we’re doing everything we can to make that a reality. It’s a high-value cash crop that really changes the dynamic of farming in Connecticut,” said Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture Brian Hurlburt.
In the six weeks since the program began, Hurlburt’s office has approved more than 50 applications to grow.
Speakers covered issues like cultivation practices, where to get seeds and how to follow state regulations for growing.
