Murray State University has announced a new Center for Agricultural Hemp The center will be administered by the University’s Hutson School of Agriculture in coordination with industry partners.
With the leadership of Congressman James Comer, who first introduced and requested Murray State’s involvement in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture pilot program as commissioner, hemp legislation and policy has developed quickly.
“The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill was the final step in bringing agricultural hemp into the mainstream of America’s agriculture commodities,” Kentucky First District U.S. Rep. James Comer said. “Murray State was the first university in America to participate in the very first hemp pilot program. Today, Murray State’s Hutson School of Agriculture is one of the leading agricultural hemp schools in the nation.”
CV Sciences has been named as a foundational partner for this center. Donors at the foundational partner level will become part of the center leadership roundtable to develop and implement center activities.
“Since providing the first hemp seeds for planting in 2014, CV Sciences has been committed to investing in the valuable work that Dr. Tony Brannon and Murray State University’s Hutson School of Agriculture have conducted to elevate the hemp industry and its research efforts,” stated Josh Hendrix, Director of Domestic Hemp Production at CV Sciences and President of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. “The development of this Center will devote focused attention on hemp as it grows into the valuable commodity it is.”
The University’s leadership within the area of hemp exploration is historic and diverse within higher education. Murray State planted the first legal agricultural hemp research plot on May 12, 2014. Since that time, the University has been on the front line of exploration of the crop, hosting field days while continually working with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, local farmers, researchers, legislators, companies and partners to assist in the development of the industry within the region and commonwealth.
In the past five years, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture pilot program has expanded exponentially under the leadership of Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles. The KDA recently approved an expansion in planting to include up to 50,000 acres in the 2019 crop production year, with a substantial amount of this acreage within Murray State’s service region.
“We are very excited that the Hutson School of Agriculture at Murray State University, as a national leader in agricultural hemp development, will establish a Center for Agricultural Hemp in order to conduct research and development initiatives for this important agricultural commodity,” said Murray State University President Dr. Bob Jackson."
In addition to a substantial increase in student enrollment, Murray State’s Hutson School of Agriculture has added many new programs and initiatives to support student interest for innovative and emerging careers, the latest such being the creation of the Center for Agricultural Hemp.
The center will focus on several primary topics and initiatives involving agronomy, cannabinoid science, agribusiness, economics and finance, animal feeds and fibers, education, hemp policy, workforce development and agricultural hemp farming.
Said Brannon: “We are excited about this center and invite those who would like to align with us as partners or donors to come join us as we reinvent this historic commonwealth of Kentucky crop while bringing important economic activity to our region.”
"Industry leaders, companies and individuals who wish to partner with Murray State’s vision for this center are encouraged to contact Dr. Tony Brannon, dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture, at [email protected], Dr. Brian Parr, assistant dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture, at [email protected], or by calling 270-809-3936.", the team with the Hutson School of Agriculture concluded.
Source: msublueandgold.org