Farmers searching to replace their tobacco crops are turning to hemp
The Los Angeles Times writes that in Kentucky, hemp was grown as far back as the 1700s and now the farmers are returning to their hemp roots since the Farm Bill was signed in December by President Trump. Hemp is now listed as a commodity crop, like soybeans and corn.
Hemp gained importance in World War II, providing a cheap, stiff fiber that was used for parachutes, uniforms, tarps, and tent cloth. At that time, the American government encouraged farmers to grow hemp. In the 1940s, Kentucky farmers were growing 52,000 acres of hemp, more than any other state. Hemp lost favor with the introduction of synthetic fibers and cheaper cotton after 1945. Growing was stopped entirely with the Controlled Substances Act making hemp illegal in the 70s.
