Senator Charles Schumer came to Owego on Friday, Aug. 24 to announce that he and a group of bipartisan leaders are pushing for a change in the laws at the federal level, which would legally separate industrial hemp from marijuana.
Currently, federal laws treat industrial hemp like a drug, which creates major barriers to growers wanting to grow industrial hemp. Martha Sauerbrey, Tioga County chairperson, was on hand to introduce the Senator and thank him for his support, especially in regards to flood assistance.
Andy Fagan, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Tioga director, asked Janice Degni, CCE Regional Dairy and Field Crops team leader and member of the Cornell / CCE Statewide Hemp Team to attend, and she explained the difference between hemp and marijuana and provided an update on the research efforts underway to support the growth of the industry in our region.
New York State has worked hard to support growers, and several were on hand to talk with the Senator and thank him for his support.
Jeff Luciano did a great job representing the farmers, speaking about their efforts and the promise of job growth in the near future. There are currently five growers in Tioga County, which is the largest number for any county in New York State.
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