With so much pressure on commodity crop prices in 2019, it should come as no surprise that retailers would embrace the opportunity to help grower customers find an alternative crop like industrial hemp. But just how much interest exists among retailers?
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Strong farmer interest.
Retailers believe that most customers have at least some interest in producing hemp. More than 7 in 10 say grower customers are a little or a lot interested in producing hemp in the future.
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It’s out there.
A bit more than half of retail respondents are aware of hemp production in their area.
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Hunger to learn.
More than 80% of retail respondents are interested in learning more about hemp production.
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“Morality” seemingly not an issue.
Less than 2 in 10 respondents indicated that the question of the morality of growing hemp would be an issue for grower customers.
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Retailers provided more context to their multiple choice answers to the survey. Here are some of the most compelling comments. Photo credit: Matt Barton, University of Kentucky Ag Communications
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Retailers provided more context to their multiple choice answers to the survey. Here are some of the most compelling comments.
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Retailers provided more context to their multiple choice answers to the survey. Here are some of the most compelling comments.
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Retailers provided more context to their multiple choice answers to the survey. Here are some of the most compelling comments.
A recent reader poll of CropLife News subscribers revealed a mix of solid interest and a desire to learn more, but a recognition of roadblocks that create skepticism in the near-term viability of hemp production.
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You can review the results of our survey, filled out by 146 subscribers, by clicking through the slides above.
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Schrimpf, an award-winning journalist, has covered the agriculture market since 1998. He is Group Editor of the Agribusiness Group at Meister Media Worldwide, with full editorial responsibility for CropLife®, CropLife IRON, and PrecisionAg® Professional.See all author stories here.
July 15, 2019 
