A Jefferson business is among those growing a recently legalized crop in Iowa.

Andy Krieger, owner of Krieger’s Flowershop and Greenhouses, says they are now growing industrial hemp. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio what started as an interest in the crop a couple of years ago became a business venture when the Iowa Legislature approved the new crop in April of 2019. Krieger says they have been issued the #7 license to grow industrial hemp from seedlings, and he describes the process. 

“Literally taking a hemp seed, putting it in soil into a tray, germinating it, and then taking it up to probably going to be about six-inches tall, which takes about six weeks to get it up to a certain height, to be able to make it a viable plant, to go out into the field.”

Krieger notes the 150,000 seedlings that are planted will be sold to a row crop farmer who has been granted a license to finish growing the crop. He says hemp has been around for 12,000 years and it is estimated to have over 25,000 uses. Krieger says the two main uses are for cannabidiol oil and fibers. 

Krieger explains the difference between hemp and marijuana, as the crop tends to be associated with the drug.

“Industrial hemp has to have a THC level of below three-percent and that’s mandated by federal law, whereas marijuana normally has a THC level of 15-percent or above. You can’t get a negative effect from it with the varieties that we grow.”

Krieger adds, they are under constant observation from state officials, which includes unannounced visits and tests. He says when the crop is ready to be harvested in October, it will be tested and if the THC result is a little bit above three-percent, the crop must be destroyed. He is confident there is a market for the crop and appreciates the legislature and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for allowing it to be grown in the state.