Flooding delaying Kansas legal hemp planting

Recent flooding is delaying plans for a newly legal crop of hemp in Kansas.

Rick Gash operates the Hemp Development Group. He is one of many farmers who hoped to plant hemp seeds this year after the Legislature legalized the crop in 2018 and allowed Kansas farmers to begin harvesting hemp this year.

The crop can be farmed only through the state’s research program, which requires a state-issued license.

Gash was preparing 80 acres to plant hemp last week but his land was flooded after heavy rains.

Some farmers will still get to plant their seeds and start hemp production. Gash says he’s working with farmers to amend their state licenses if the weather prevents them from planting.