Illinois Farmers one step closer to hemp production
On Wednesday, May 23rd, the Illinois House voted 106-3 to license farmers to grow industrial hemp. SB2298, sponsored by Senator Toi Hutchinson and Representative Tim Butler, is legislation that would help Illinois farmers, the state economy, and the environment.
The Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Illinois Environmental Council, and Illinois Farm Bureau collaborated on this legislation to bring hemp back to Illinois, which was once the lead producer of hemp in the 1940s.
“Illinois has a tremendous economic and environmental opportunity in growing hemp,” Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield). “Farmers in my district will benefit from the passage of this legislation.”
Hemp holds promise for remediating contaminated soils, helping farmers transition to organic, and may be able to outcompete aggressive herbicide-resistant weeds, helping farmers combat this major problem without having to turn to harsher herbicides.
“I’m very interested in the possibility of using hemp to help naturally transition some of my farmland to organic production in the future while still earning income for a cash crop,” said farmer Chad Wallace of Oak Tree Farms in Ashland.
“Illinois has some of the best farmland in the Midwest,” said State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights). “And with more than 80 percent of our land use tied to agriculture, farmers would finally have the chance to grow and produce a product that is already available in our stores.”
Demand is high not only from farmers, but brewers, processors, and even clothing designers in Illinois who hope to purchase their supply from local farmers soon. There are at least 25,000 different products that could be made from hemp, from plastic alternatives to “hempcrete” and particle board, food, cosmetics, rope, clothing, and much more.
Salvador Jasso, a clothing designer in Glendale Heights said he is excited for the opportunity to source hemp locally instead of purchasing hemp from China. “I have created a hemp clothing line to bring opportunities back home to the people who founded Illinois, our farmers. I want to revitalize our soil, our foundation, and to rebuild our communities for a sustainable future.”
“This legislation gives Illinois farmers the freedom to try growing a crop that’s good for their bottom line and can keep our waterways cleaner,” Executive Director Liz Moran Stelk of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance said. “It’s a win-win-win for farmers, our state and our economy.”
The bill passed out of the Senate unanimously last month, but will go back for a concurrence vote.