By Jordan Strickler
Hemp has long been pitched to Kentucky farmers as a way to diversify their income. Research now suggests it could diversify the landscape itself, with measurable benefits for the state’s water and wildlife.
Tyler Mark, Ph.D., an agricultural economist in the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE), co-authored the paper published in Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy alongside researchers at Mississippi State University and Central State University.
The study examined what happens to Kentucky’s environment when hemp constitutes a larger share of the state’s farmland. The team found that more hemp means more crop diversity, which is linked to cleaner water and a wider variety of birds.
Kentucky is one of the nation’s leading hemp-producing states. According to the USDA 2026 National Hemp Report, Kentucky farmers planted 4,800 acres of industrial hemp in 2025. Now, much of the conversation around the crop has centered on markets and prices, particularly as growers in a state with deep tobacco roots look for new options. The researchers wanted to look at a less-discussed side of the equation.
“Profitability, while important, is only part of the story,” Mark said. “Hemp can also impact the environment. If hemp acres are going to expand, then we also need to understand and quantify these impacts.”
Source : uky.edu