By Clint Thompson
Alabama’s hemp producers and industry leaders should make plans to attend one of the scheduled hemp meetings in January.
Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension specialist, believes these meetings – which are scheduled throughout the state – are beneficial to the long-term sustainability of the crop.
“It allows us to get a lot of growers who are thinking about being growers in a room together to share stories and have that peer-to-peer learning. That is so useful in a crop like this where we’re all learning and we all want it to be the best it can,” Kesheimer said. “I find it a really nice experience to have regulatory, extension, research, growers of all experiences in a room together to discuss the biggest pressing issues.”
Meeting Details
Registration for the meetings is free but required for attendance. More information about each meeting can be found below.
Wednesday, Jan. 11; 9 a.m.-noon
Wiregrass Research and Extension Center
167 AL-134, Headland, Alabama 36330
Thursday, Jan. 12; 9 a.m.-noon
Grace Fellowship Church
1412 E. Nashville Avenue, Atmore, Alabama 36502
Friday, Jan. 13; 9 a.m.-noon
Tuscaloosa County Extension Office
2513 7th Street, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401
Thursday, Jan. 19; 9 a.m.-noon
Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Auditorium
1445 Federal Drive, Montgomery, Alabama 36107
Friday, Jan. 20; 9 a.m.-noon
Lauderdale County Extension Office
802 Veterans Drive, Florence, Alabama 35630
The meetings will cover the 2023 hemp season with changes to hemp rules, requirements licensees must meet and procedures and deadlines. There will also be information on hemp budgets and tips for a successful growing season.
For more information on industrial hemp in Alabama, visit the Alabama Industrial Hemp Program web page at www.aces.edu.