The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) will host a hemp field day on Wednesday, Aug. 13, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida.
The UF/IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit is located at 2556 County Highway 318, Citra, Florida.
UF/IFAS researchers, Extension agents and doctoral students will share research advancements and management practices related to hemp production.
Presentations will feature the UF/IFAS Hemp Nutrition Program, including information about nitrogen fertilizer sources. Others will focus on the use of living mulch as a weed suppressant and how drones are being utilized to monitor crop performance. Attendees will be able to network with experts. A field tour and a complimentary lunch are included in the field day.
Hemp, or Cannabis sativa, is legal to cultivate and process in Florida with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) licensing. Hemp is used for textiles, building materials, seed oil and essential oil.
The UF/IFAS hemp pilot project began in 2019, and it is funded by FDACS and industry partners. Research takes place in fields and within controlled environments at UF/IFAS facilities across the state and on private farms with project partners. Efforts include assessment of the crop, cropping systems and their ecological and economic impacts. The goal is to support the future viability and sustainability of the hemp industry.