By Sean Ellis
Hemp acres in Idaho have risen by large percentages since it became legal to grow the crop in the state. However, it’s still a minor crop in Idaho and acres appear to be leveling off, at least for this year.
In 2022, the first year it was legal to produce industrial hemp in Idaho, farmers grew 459 acres of hemp. Acreage more than doubled in 2023, to 1,248. From 2023 to 2024, acres grew by 49 percent, reaching 1,860.
This year, they have leveled off. According to Idaho State Department of Agriculture data, Idaho farmers plan to grow 1,782 acres of hemp this year.
That hemp acres would level off after the initial excitement surrounding the crop is not surprising, said Mattie Mead, owner and founder of Idaho-based Hempitecture, which uses industrial hemp to create high-performance building materials such as insulation.
That hemp acres are flat this year “is to be expected with any new ag commodity,” he said.
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