EXTENSION TO HOST INDUSTRIAL HEMP WORKSHOPS

Murphysboro, Ill- During the first week of February, University of Illinois Extension will host three separate workshops throughout southern Illinois to share information on industrial hemp production.

The signing of the Illinois hemp bill has provided opportunities for the cultivation, distribution and processing of hemp for fiber, grain and CBD. This versatile cash crop takes up a small amount of acreage and has the potential to empower small farmers, however, is not without its own set of challenges.

Join Extension Educator Phillip Alberti as he shares his experience with this potential new cash crop for producers in Illinois. Demonstrations of various production systems and planting methods will be covered while addressing issues faced throughout the growing season. Additional topics include: licensing, rules and regulations, end products and an update on hemp across the state of Illinois. Each workshop will discuss grain, fiber and CBD production and will also focus on the many applications for this new crop. The workshops will be held on the following dates at three Extension locations:

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Jackson County Extension Office, 402 Ava Rd., Murphysboro, IL. Call at 618-687-1727 for more information or to register by phone.

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the White County Extension Office, 1715 College Ave., Carmi, IL. Call at 618-382-2662 for more information or to register by phone.

Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Dixon Agriculture Center, 354 St Hwy 145 N, Simpson, IL. Call 618-695-6060 for more information or to register by phone.

The cost to attend is $5 per person and individuals can register online at: https://go.illinois.edu/industrialhemp2020. Seating is limited and individual must register by Feb. 4.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any of our programs, please contact your local county extension office. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting access needs.

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About Extension:  University of Illinois Extension is the flagship outreach effort of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, offering educational programs to residents of all of Illinois' 102 counties — and far beyond.  The unit 26 office serves Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Williamson counties. Extension Educators provide practical research-based information in horticulture, local food systems and small farms, youth development, and community and economic development. These programs are geared toward enabling people to improve their lives and communities through learning partnerships that put knowledge to work.

For Further Information, Contact:

News Source: Maggie Ray, 618-687-1727, mro@illinois.edu         

News Writer: Heather Willis, 618-357-2126, hdwillis@illinois.edu

http://extension.illinois.edu/fjprw/