Growing Interest for Hemp Fueling Demand for Education

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – What is the newest old crop today? According to USDA, it’s hemp. USDA defines hemp as a versatile crop grown around the world for thousands of years, before being effectively outlawed in the 1970s because hemp and marijuana are from the same plant.

When the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp again, the crop became a viable alternative with a potentially global market. Unfortunately, there isn’t an abundance of research-backed information and training available about producing, processing, and selling it. This is where Purdue University steps in.

The new online Hemp Essentials course from Purdue addresses going beyond just production, although that topic certainly is covered. “You can find these things separately, but nothing else goes into this depth in one place,” said Marguerite Bolt, hemp extension specialist in the Purdue College of Agriculture’s Department of Agronomy. “You’re going to get a comprehensive view of the hemp industry.”

More than just lecture videos, Hemp Essentials features abundant interactive and multimedia content. The online course is self-paced and is available for three months. The tuition is $500 for Indiana residents and $550 for out-of-state students. There are no prerequisites, but a basic understanding of plants and soil is recommended.

To register, click here: https://www.eventreg.purdue.edu/info/hemp-essentials/
(SOURCE: All Ag News)