UF Industrial Hemp Pilot Project - Part 2

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

On Friday we introduced you to the University of Florida’s Industrial Hemp Pilot Project. Assistant professor Dr. Zack Brym says they are currently transitioning from the pilot phase, which collected and tested a wide array of varieties, to the program phase which will provide more data and and a longer term outlook.

Brym… “So the pilot project was set up to be a variety trial at three different locations: my research station here in Homestead, a location in the Gainesville area, and also in North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy.”

The research team identified the varieties best suited for these areas of Florida. Now they’re taking those varieties and studying them further.

Brym… “And so just that first year really saw a nice opportunity to learn from that experience. 2020 was year two. We were able to move into some planting date trials, some nutrient management trials, and really continue to expand our knowledge and the work that we're doing. Of course as, as seems to continue to appear as a tag along, the invasion risk studies were also happening at the same time. Doing the ecology at the same time that we were doing the agriculture.”

Learn more on the UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project website: https://programs.ifas.ufl.edu/hemp/.