FREEPORT, Ill. — Hoping to move beyond the basics of industrial hemp production and focus on fine tuning your operation? Are you looking to network with others in the region to evolve your current operation plans? Do you want to hear from growers about their successes and failures in this new and emerging industry?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we have the meeting for you. The University of Illinois Extension will be hosting its 2nd annual “Industrial Hemp Production Workshop” at Highland Community College’s Student Conference Center, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport (Building H, Parking lot A) on March 24, 2020. The workshop will begin at 8:30 a.m. and run until 3 p.m.
This versatile cash crop has the been touted as having the potential to empower the small farmer, but as the 2019 growing season showed us, is not without its own set of challenges. Knowing the ins and outs of this industry before getting involved will be critical to success in this new market. This meeting is being held to give some perspective on the lessons learned from the 2019 growing season with regards to planting methods, fertility, harvesting, storage and extraction.
“We learned a lot this year, but I am not sure that anyone was truly ready for the challenges associated with growing hemp,” Extension Educator Phillip Alberti said. “We are a long way from giving research-based recommendations to our growers on how to grow hemp, start to finish. But what we can do is bring together those who have faced these challenges head on and share their experiences while research programs are developed.”
The workshop will host a wide range of presenters who are involved in the industry, discussing topics such as production challenges, variety selection, greenhouse/indoor propagation, seeding methods, extraction, insurance, and marketing.
Those interested in viewing a complete agenda or attending the workshop may register online at go.illinois.edu/jsw or by calling the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County at 815-235-4125.
The cost of the program is $25, which includes light refreshments and lunch. Pre-registrations are encouraged due to limited seating.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact the Extension Office, early requests are strongly encouraged to allow enough time for meeting your access needs. For additional questions, contact Phillip Alberti, Crop Science Educator with University of Illinois Extension at 815-599-3644 or palberti@illinois.edu
— University of Illinois Extension
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