Soon, Vermont farmers might gain a new chance to bring potentially lucrative diversity to their operations. Without signing it, Governor Jim Douglas has allowed a bill which lets farms plant industrial hemp crops become a law. However the champions of a new and thriving industry will have a longer wait

Hemp and marijuana are both considered the same plant so according to Federal law, they are both illegal. Lots of law makers think a change in the policy will take place. Proponents of hemp believe that it has great potential in many areas including cosmetics, clothing, and food production. The Agriculture Agency is prepared to change even more after these new laws are passed.

Although corn production is less in Vermont than in the Midwest, only producing 90,000 acres per year, it is still vitally necessary to continue with the practice of regular crop rotation. In Vermont, hemp is supported as a crop by other Vermont industries such as candle making and dairies. Once considered a very small time market, products made from Hemp are quickly becoming a mainstream market. A yearly average of 16,500 acres of hemp is produced for use in consumable food products by farmers in Canada. Vermont's potential hemp industry could also tap into this market as well as selling cheap animal bedding for the 140,000 cows in Vermont.

Because of hemps ties to marijuana, law enforcement opposes the bill. The Governor also stated that the relation between hemp and marijuana was a part of the reason as to why he did not support the bill. The Agricultural Agency must now create rules regarding hemp cultivation so that farmers can obtain licenses once federal law is changed. This state, and North Dakota, are the only two that have put this into effect. Hemp agriculture is legal in many countries today, including Canada. Hemp cultivation and production were banned by law in America in 1937, although it’s interesting to note that exceptions were made for hemp farming for certain industries during World War 2.

The author is interested in hemp production and organic clothing. Click here for more.

Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com

Please Rate The Above Article From The Clothing Category

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

# of Ratings = 2 | Rating = 4/5

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Clothing Articles Via RSS!