Maysville Community and Technical College in Kentucky is set up to off a course on producing hemp starting in the spring semester. The title of the class is “Introduction to Hemp Production”, and will cover the basic concepts and theories of producing and distributing hemp.
Cultivation strategies will also be covered, with an emphasis on keeping things science based. Students will learn more about the needs of cannabis plants like the temperatures they like, sunlight, soil, growing cycles, how water and nutrients are absorbed, and how all these things come together in the final plant. That will include the delicate balance of controlling the THC levels in the final product, which is important in keeping their crops legal, while developing the CBD levels that make their crops profitable.
The class came about after farmers expressed interest after the 2019 growing season. Producers are interested to know more about hemp and are looking to train themselves on the needs of this new crop. The demands of farming hemp are still being solidified in the cycle of farming it year after year, and the college hopes to educate people as the industry grows and evolves.
“Many farmers who’ve grown tobacco and other crops in this region recognize the challenges that exist in nature. They understand there are basic science-based criteria that improve crop production,” Carrie Taylor, Horticulture and Workforce Solutions Instructor, said to the Morehead News.
Local companies involved with the industry are also acknowledging the need for education. They see it as the best way to survive. At Acela Bio Medical Inc, CEO Andrew Culbertson, believes that proper education is the only way to survive in this rapidly evolving industry. The company runs a processing facility that worked with 120 Kentucky farmers for the 2019 growing season.
