Forbes Magazine recently identified hemp as "a potential economic dynamo for American farmers" at a time of financial stress for agriculture.

"Everybody wants to do it," Wayne said, "but we have no guiding regulations to do it" that are agreed to yet.

No one testified in opposition to the bill at the committee hearing.

"Nebraska is stuck between corn and soybeans," Andrew Bish of Giltner said.

"Hemp is appealing to Nebraska farmers (and) will improve the economic outlook for Nebraska," he said.

"Growing conditions are favorable for hemp in the state," said Jenkins, the UNK professor. "This could be a shot in the arm for the Nebraska farm economy."

The Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Farmers Union supported the legislation, pointing to the opportunity for diversification in Nebraska agriculture.

"It's a growing market and we need to allow Nebraska farmers to produce alternative crops," Wayne said.

"The industry is growing and Nebraskans are missing out," he said.

"This is the time," Farmers Union President John Hansen told the committee.

Before the 2018 farm bill drew a clear distinction, industrial hemp had been widely associated with marijuana even though it does not contain the same concentration of ingredients that can turn it into a recreational drug.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSDon.

Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.