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Plots on Illinois’ state fairgrounds to be used for hemp education

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will grow hemp on a couple of plots at the state fairgrounds in Springfield this year.

Illinois Ag Director John Sullivan tells Brownfield the plots will be used to educate the public about what hemp is and what it looks like.

“We are also going to use it as a training with our staff here to go out as it grows and to test it to see where the THC is in it and make sure it stays where it needs to be.”

Illinois hemp regulations are being filed with the Secretary of State and if approved, the department will begin accepting license applications from farmers.

Sullivan tells Brownfield the next step is figuring out what to do with hemp once it is harvested.

“We’re going to need to get some businesses in the state of Illinois to start the processing side of it as well.”

He says the ag department’s goal has been to have hemp grown in Illinois this year and he’ll be excited to see that happen.