60 Farms Added to Hemp Research Program

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced more than 60 new farms and businesses have received research permits under the State’s Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot program. These new research partners expand across the state, including seven counties in the Southern Tier, and will focus their studies in biotechnology and agronomics, among other areas. Applications for future research partners in the areas of food and fiber will now be accepted on a continuous basis.Currently, 62 applicants have received research permits for the 2018 growing season with additional research partners in the approval process. In addition, 18 New York companies have registered to process industrial hemp. Approximately 3,500 acres of New York farmland are approved for industrial hemp research trials, compared to 2,000 acres in 2017. Research projects will focus on utilizing industrial hemp as a source of food, fiber and grain for the production of animal bedding, insulation, pellets for heating and many other consumer products.