A Colorado task force will study the use of industrial hemp for animal feed as soon as this summer, thanks to a new state law aimed at broadening the plant’s applications.
According to the Coloradoan, the group will study the details of how industrial hemp may be used in feed, including:
- The economic ramifications
- The potential legal issues
- Hemp’s effect on animals
The group likely will present its findings to the Colorado Department of Agriculture by the end of the year, the Fort Collins, Colorado, newspaper reported.
The task force is the result of a law enacted during the 2017 legislative session. The lawmaker behind the measure, Rep. Jeni Arndt, told the Coloradoan it was intended to create more opportunities for the state’s hemp producers.
The group could include members from other states, according to the Coloradoan. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also has been invited to participate.
Wendy Mosher, CEO of Colorado-based hemp firm New West Genetics, said fats in hemp can improve the quality of chicken eggs as well as horses’ coats, the Coloradoan reported.
Though Hemp generally contains less than 0.3% THC, it’s still banned in a number of states while others permit the plant’s cultivation for research purposes.
