Pesticides are likely going to be available to Kentucky hemp growers when they start planting the crop in 2020. Officials with the federal Environmental Protection Agency came to Kentucky Wednesday to make the announcement.
Assistant Administrator to the EPA, Alexandra Dunn said her agency has received ten applications for hemp pesticides with nine biological in nature. “They are things that are effective at keeping pests off plants, repelling insects, but they are not what we call conventional pesticides which have a bit more toxicity to them,” said Dunn.
Dunn added there is a 30-day public comment period regarding the pesticide applicants. The EPA official said there is no limit on the number of applicants being accepted by her agency.
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said weeds and insects can rob hemp plants of healthy growth. “Once hemp gets established, germinates and develops canopy it does a pretty good job of keeping the weeds out, but those crucial first weeks in the ground, weeds are thieves and we need modern technology to help combat on the herbicide level plants that otherwise would create a bad stand for the hemp crop,” Quarles said.
Dunn made the announcement before hundreds of farmers at the annual hemp field day sponsored by the University of Kentucky.
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