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Application numbers show high interest for Illinois hemp production

Quick submission of hemp license applications shows high interest for hemp production in Illinois.

Seven hours after the application was released Tuesday, the Illinois Department of Agriculture had received 160 grower applications and more than 40 from potential processors. At least 1200 acres had been approved at that time.

Jeff Cox with the ag department tells Brownfield hemp will be an experimental crop this year since it is new to the state, but they plan to monitor progress to better prepare for 2020.

“Also, in February folks will have to file a report with us letting us know how much hemp they planted, how much actually got harvested and what their yield was so we can start developing statistics to see where Illinois stands in with regard to hemp cultivation.”

He says there has also been interest from people in other states to build hemp processing facilities in Illinois.

The department will accept hemp applications year-round.