South Dakota is launching its first industrial hemp processing center, Complete Hemp Processing, in Winfred, after a decade of planning. The facility, established by A.H. Meyer & Sons, provides a reliable destination for local farmers to grow hemp crops.
Complete Hemp Processing capitalizes on the 2018 Farm Bill's legalization of industrial hemp, a crop with 10,000 years of human usage. Despite challenges due to the volatile CBD market, the crop's diverse applications, particularly in sustainable construction, are gaining traction.
Ray Kaderli, President of the US Hemp Building Association, highlighted the potential of hemp-lime materials in construction, highlighting their sustainability and potential to reduce carbon footprint. Projects like PA Home and innovative products like load-bearing hemp cinderblocks and HempWool insulation are promoting environment-friendly construction.
The event showcased the Complete Hemp Processing Decortication System, a technology revolutionizing hemp processing by separating plant components. State representatives like Sen. Casey Crabtree highlighted hemp's potential for future generations in value-added agriculture.
While nationwide hemp acreage witnessed a decline, South Dakota has remained an outlier, registering increased cultivation. Roger Gussiaas, founder of Healthy Oil Seeds, championed diversifying crops and spotlighted the potential of hemp in the grain market.
Andrew Bish highlighted that for hemp to become a staple, it needs to penetrate larger markets, like the automotive industry. Currently, European automakers utilize hemp fibers, with Mercedes Benz importing theirs from France. As Frederick Cawthon noted, the US has a significant opportunity to tap into this market and meet the demand domestically.
On the research front, Global Hemp Association's seed trials across various US regions aim to further boost hemp cultivation. Morris Beegle, echoing the sentiments of many, championed hemp as a solution to current agricultural and societal challenges, describing it as a plant with the power to bring transformative change.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jessicahyde
Categories: South Dakota, Crops