First Hemp Crop Harvested in New York

New York’s very first hemp crop has finally been harvested, thanks to the state’s new pilot program. New York finalized details on hemp growing regulations earlier this year, the new arrangement allows growers to obtain a hemp license if they partner with a university. Many states have implemented plans for hemp growing, however JD Farms in New York is currently the only hemp farm in the state.

The owner of the first successful hemp harvest is JD Farms co-owner Mark Justh, who owns a 1,200-acre farm that is located northwest of New York City. Among the usual farm occupants such as cattle, pigs and other crops, he also began growing organic hemp in a 30-acre plot under a research agreement with local Morrisville State College. “The versatility of this crop is amazing,” Justh commented about his experience in growing hemp this summer.

In an interview with Times Union, Mark  Justh stated that in the beginning, he was thinking of only growing hemp as a cover crop—or a crop that is used to enrich the soil. That is, until he met now-partner Dan Dolgin, who convinced the budding entrepreneur that hemp had so much more potential. “Hemp is a triple-value crop, with a multitude of products made from the seeds, stalks and fiber,” Dolgin told the Union. “We hope the results of what we’re doing here will convince other farmers that this is a great opportunity.”

The 2014 United States Farm Bill allowed states like New York to begin planning for hemp research. Since that was passed, 29 states have approved hemp legislation, and another nine have working pilot programs. It’s easy to assume that with the success of hemp growth as seen with JD Farms, we can expect even more farm and university partnerships to be made in the near future.