Small-scale hemp cultivation is seen as a way to expand economic opportunity for cannabis farmers, but Humboldt County's Board of Supervisors has turned down a request to launch a hemp pilot program due to its costs. Two other actions — allowing monofilament netting and indoor cultivation in structures built after 2016 — were approved at the Jan. 6 supervisors meeting.
The Humboldt County Growers Alliance (HGA) asked the county to approve a hemp pilot program that would allow permitting of up to 5,000 square feet of hemp cultivation. The county approved a moratorium on hemp growing in 2019 due to concerns about cross-pollination and enforcement costs. Cross-pollination, however, is not considered an issue with cultivation areas as small as those proposed for the pilot program.
Planning Director John Ford said, "The first thought is anything that can be done to help the cannabis community, particularly the small farmers, sounds like a good idea, as we want to support the industry and it seems innocuous," but added that cost remains an issue.
Ford said the county would need to backfill the Agricultural Commissioner's Office to accommodate the program and equip it with the ability to test hemp to determine that it is hemp and not high-THC cannabis.
Read more at KYM Kemp
