A 45-year marijuana grower believes hemp farming could revolutionize the local agricultural economy.
“Jobs, jobs, jobs,” said Lu Nettleton. “And I’m talking high-skilled, high-paying jobs. That’s what’s at stake.”
Nettleton represents the Colorado Plateau Growers Association, and he plans to share his ideas on creating a locally self-sustaining agribusiness with other potential farmers at a hemp meeting in Cortez on Sunday, Jan. 5. Organized by local businesswoman Sharon Stewart, the 10 a.m. meeting is held at Spruce Tree Coffeehouse.
“With the days now getting longer, farmers are planning for their next crops,” said Stewart. “Colorado’s newest crop, industrial hemp, has a lot of potential in the Four Corners because of the abundant sunshine, existing facilities and equipment and amount of farmable acreage.”
The free hemp meeting is scheduled to feature two industry experts, including hemp businesswoman Barbara Filippone and hemp advocate James McVaney. Stewart said learning the ins and outs from established professionals could benefit Montezuma County farmers.
“Along with the expert presentations, locals will gather to learn and discuss the possibilities and realities of Colorado’s newest agricultural industry,” Stewart said.
Last fall, area farmers formed a group that meets monthly to discuss relevant issues and lay the groundwork needed to bring the industry to the Western Slope. Nettleton said it’s a no-brainer.
“There are already about a dozen locals who are exquisite growers,” he said. “It’s not about hippies getting high anymore.”
Hemp was outlawed in America nearly 50 years ago, but in August, the U.S. Justice Department issued a memo stating the federal government would not interfere with state laws regulating cannabis sativa. The measure prompted Industrial Hemp of Colorado officials to lobby farmers to once again grow the environmental friendly crop.
“Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians all see this as a great opportunity to grow hemp in Colorado,” said McVaney, IHC director. “It could help grow jobs across rural Colorado.”
Nettleton, owner of Diamante Farm in Cortez, says hemp could revitalize the embattled San Juan Bioenergy plant in Dove Creek. The plant opened in 2007 to process sunflower oil into fuel, but the company has since collapsed.
“We could take that plant in Dove Creek and rebuild a rural lifestyle using hemp as a leg to stand on,” Nettleton said.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture has adopted the first industrial hemp rules in the state’s history; the rule became effective Dec. 30, 2013. Producers can begin to register with CDA’s industrial hemp program on March 1.
“These rules are the first step to allow Colorado producers to legally grow industrial hemp,” said Colorado Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture Ron Carleton.
Producers must register with CDA by May 1 if they would like to grow industrial hemp during the 2014 growing season. The annual registration fee for commercial production of industrial hemp will be $200 plus $1 per acre. The annual registration fee for production of industrial hemp for research and development will be $100 plus $5 per acre. All registrations will be valid for one year from date of issuance.
All registrants are subject to sampling of their industrial hemp crop to verify that the THC concentration does not exceed 0.3 percent on dry weight basis; up to 33 percent of the registrants will be inspected each year. During the inspection, the registrant or authorized representative must provide the Department’s inspector with complete and unrestricted access to all industrial hemp plants and seeds whether growing or harvested, all land, buildings and other structures used for the cultivation and storage of industrial hemp, and all documents and records pertaining to the registrant’s industrial hemp growing business.
The entire rule and additional information on industrial hemp can be found by visiting www.colorado.gov/ag/dpi and click on “industrial hemp.”
To learn more about the local hemp effort, visit www.facebook.com/groups/HempTalksWS.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com
