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Ky. agriculture officials receive hemp shipment

By WTOP Staff

BRUCE SCHREINER
Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Tiny hemp seeds that produced a drawn-out legal fight were freed from confinement and delivered Friday to Kentucky’s Agriculture Department for experimental plantings, marking a limited comeback for the non-intoxicating cousin of marijuana.

The seeds from Italy that drew so much suspicion from federal drug officials were unceremoniously unloaded from a UPS truck and then weighed by state agriculture officials. The shipment featuring 13 seed varieties came in at 286 pounds.

It marked an uneventful conclusion to a standoff that pitted the state’s Agriculture Department against the federal government. Seed deliveries for pilot projects across Kentucky could start as early as Friday, with plans to put the seeds in Kentucky soil in coming days.

State Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, a Republican who sees hemp as a potential cash crop for farmers and a jobs creator for processors, said the arrival of the seeds puts Kentucky at the forefront of efforts to reintroduce the long-banned crop in the United States.

“As this program grows, so too will opportunities for our farmers and jobs for all Kentuckians,” he said in a statement.

The seeds were detained for two weeks by U.S. customs officials in Louisville, Kentucky, delaying pilot growing projects meant to gauge the crop’s potential. Six universities are assisting with the research for the highly versatile crop.

Eastern Kentucky University agriculture professor Bruce Pratt said his team prepared 3 acres on the school’s farm for hemp plantings.

“We’re excited to get this research project started,” he said Friday.

The crop thrived in Kentucky decades ago, and he thinks it has potential as a viable crop for the state’s farmers. His research team will assess the success of different seed varieties, which could someday help guide Kentucky farmers if the crop is eventually allowed to take its place in production agriculture.

The key would be developing markets for the crop, which could lure processors to Kentucky, he said.

“If we can get some of that competitive advantage being one of the first states to be able to develop this as a crop to attract those processors, it has potential,” Pratt said. “It’s not going to happen overnight. It will take several years to fully develop.”

Growing hemp without a federal permit was banned in 1970 due to its classification as a controlled substance related to marijuana.

Hemp and marijuana are the same species, Cannabis sativa, but hemp has a negligible amount of THC, the psychoactive compound that gives marijuana users a high. Hemp’s comeback resulted from the new federal farm bill, which allows state agriculture departments to designate hemp pilot projects for research in states such as Kentucky that allow hemp growing.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky crafted the hemp language inserted into the farm bill.

“Now that the seeds have been freed, it’s time to get them in the ground and begin our lawful pilot programs to explore the potential for job creation in our commonwealth,” he said in a statement.

Hemp has historically been used for rope but has many other uses: clothing and mulch from the fiber; hemp milk and cooking oil from the seeds; and soap and lotions.

The seeds were sprung from confinement after federal drug officials approved a permit Thursday that ended the legal standoff. The breakthrough occurred after attorneys for the Agriculture Department and federal government met twice with a federal judge.

The state Agriculture Department sued the federal government after the seed shipment was detained. Defendants included the Justice Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The legal fight was closely watched in other states. Fifteen states have removed barriers to hemp production, according to the group Vote Hemp.

Now the focus will shift from the federal courthouse to the small plots where the hemp will be planted.

Adam Watson, industrial hemp coordinator for the state Agriculture Department, said each test project in Kentucky should receive enough seeds to successfully complete their research goals.

Officials expect to learn much from the first plantings but will need data from a handful of years for more complete crop assessments, he said.

“It’s been such a long period of time since any hemp has been grown in Kentucky we really don’t know what we’re dealing with,” he said. “So the purpose of all these research projects is to evaluate how these varieties perform and what’s the best method for Kentucky producers to grow it.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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