The "Will Hemp Be Next Big Cash Crop For Lancaster County?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about Lancaster County's first hemp harvest since 1937.  It was back in '37 that growing commercial cannabis was outlawed in the United States.  Before that time it was one of the cash crops that farmers in Lancaster County would grow.  We even have a West Hempfield Township and an East Hempfield Township that are named after the crop that was grown in many areas of each township.  Both my sons, daughter-in-law and grandson live in West Hempfield Township and my grandson recently began his first year at Hempfield High School.  

The unpollinated female plant produce the flowers containing
high levels of the valuable cannabinoids.  If the male plants are
left in the field, the crop will get pollinated decreasing the value.
Lancaster Newspaper photograph

I'm not sure that most people who live in the two townships actually know the origin of the name of the township in which they live.  In the 1700s Lancaster County was a hotbed for the growing and production of hemp.  Then the growing of the crop was outlawed.  Fast forward to 2018 and the passage of the Farm Bill and the approval of commercial hemp production once again.  

The seeds are harvested from the hemp plant which are
used to make foods such as canola oil or sunflower oil.
Lancaster Newspaper photograph.

The state of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture issued 323 growing permits this year of which 55 were granted to Lancaster County growers.  There are 812 farms growing hemp statewide.  Some of the hemp is being grown for the fiber and seed which was what the crop was traditionally grown for before 1937.  But, most is being grown for cannabidiol, a compound known as CBD.  Mr. Steve Groff of Cedar Meadon Farm in Martic Township, where my wife spent her childhood, is one of Pennsulvania's largest hemp farms with 70 acres grown for CBD.  

The DBD product that
my wife used.

CBD has been used in topical rubs and patches, tinctures, vape pens, oral pouches, capsules and pet products.  My wife began to purchase a cream with CBD to be used to help with pain she had in her hips.  It smelled tremendous, but after months of using it, the pain still remained.  The harvest of the hemp just began at the end of September and will continue through the fall.  After being harvested, the hemp is dried as quick as possible so it doesn't develop mold.  The dried hemp is then ground to extract the oil.  The extraction is usually done in a processing plant.  That oil will then be filtered and bottled.  I never knew about the hemp plant until last year when it was first grown in the county.  It did so well that farmers are hoping the new crop can help a struggling agriculture industry.  Only time will tell.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.