A Florida bill unanimously passed by its Senate means hemp could be joining oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes as top Florida crops. 

An Associated Press article says the bill passed last week with the goal of helping an industry that’s been hard to get off the ground. 

 

Hemp can be used to make everything from ropes to building materials to feed. 

The bill before the Florida legislature would create a state program to administer and oversee hemp growing. 

 

Republican Senator Rob Bradley says agriculture has been hit by setbacks like citrus diseases to hurricanes over the last 20 years and hemp could be a valuable addition to farmers’ plans. 

Further west, Louisiana farmers could be expanding into help growing if lawmakers agree to a proposal going before the full House. 

 

The measure would legalize growing and processing of industrial hemp in Louisiana and do so in line with what’s allowed under the federal farm bill. 

The bill’s author says hemp production would help Louisiana’s struggling farmers and create new jobs. 

 

“The idea is to grow and take advantage of a crop we haven’t been growing since 1938,” says Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain.