Yuma hemp farm opens doors for Arizona agriculture
Danyelle Burke North
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – In Tuesday’s Home Grown report, a local hemp farm in Yuma shows just how vital the plant could be for Arizona’s economic future.
They say this is one of Arizona’s first hemp fiber industry farm tours hosted by the Hemp Industry Trade Association of Arizona (HITA). Local agricultural leaders share how hemp is opening doors for sustainable agriculture and economic opportunity.
Local council members, state leaders, and farmers toured the 20-acre hemp farm.
“It was very educational. I knew nothing about him. How it’s grown. How little water it needs,” said Rep. Mariana Sandoval (D) Arizona District 23.
“It was much more than educational. It was something to take home and talk about it and experience that more and be part of it,” said San Luis Councilmember Lizeth Servin.
Farm owner Daniel Nowell says Yuma’s soil and location make it great for growing and shares some of the items the crops help make.
“We make everything from rope. You can make textiles. I’m wearing a shirt today as well and you can do all kinds of building materials, insulation, carbon composites, supercapacitors. It goes on and on and on the many uses that we can use with industrial hemp,” said Nowell.
Hemp could also be used to build the first school of its kind.
“It’s an incredible material, and it’s exciting that we’re gonna be having the opportunity to create and build the first elementary school made out of hemp,” said Daniel Turbyfill, Secretary for the Hemp Industry Trade Association.
Tour stop number 2 was the condor seed production company where seed is taken.
“We bring it into here, we receive it, and we mill it, clean it, make it a pure product. We package it, and we ship it,” said Condor Seed Operations Lead Chris Tolman.
Locals got to tour the inside of the warehouse.
“I think it is absolutely the future of Arizona. I think it’s a great crop for shade cover, and I think it’s a beautiful crop to have in the field through the summer,” said Turbyfill.
During the tour they officially announced the launch of their adopt an acres of hemp program. The next tour will be a planting and harvesting tour before the end of the year.