Lawmakers backing hemp production try to separate it from pot in public’s eye

Marijuana’s cousin-without-a-high, industrial hemp, is a step closer to returning to Indiana. Lawmakers have allowed the state seed commissioner to license farmers to grow industrial hemp — if and when the federal government stops treating it like a Schedule I drug. A measure authored by Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, was requested by Purdue University researchers who last summer planted the state’s first legal hemp crop in decades. Purdue researchers foresee Congress ending a federal ban on hemp production in the United States within the next year.

The first newsletter of 2016 has under the guidance of Arie van Ravenswaay, a new appointment at the Department of Agriculture, taken on a new format. We hope that you enjoy the new layout.

The past season lies in the rear view mirror, getting smaller and smaller and the 2016 looming ahead. The Swartland and Southern Cape experienced vastly different seasons in 2015 and the dry conditions in the Swartland, has lowered the total wheat yield of the country. Langgewens received only 170mm of rain from April to September, with August and September the driest in about 70 years.

Hope that this newsletter finds you all well. Harvest is done and dusted or almost is some cases and yet another crop production season for the rain - fed producers is drawing to a close. The harvest this year var- ies greatly and the Swartland experienced a very difficult season.

May the coming festive season be a comfort to all. This will be the last newsletter for the year. Hope the newsletters was informative during this year and that we all learned something along the way. The next newsletter will be in January 2016.

Oestyd is met ons. Ongelooflik. Sterkte aan almal, veral aan die Swartlanders wat ‘n groendroogte seisoen beleef het. Ons dink aan julle.

Groete van huis tot huis

Hallo Almal

Ek kan nie glo dit is al die einde van September nie. Die jaar het verby gevlieg. Dankie aan almal wat bygedra het tot ons 3de suksesvolle bewaringslandboukonferensie. Dit word opreg waardeer. Sterkte met die oes ons dink aan al ons produsente in hierdie tyd.

Groete van huis tot huis