Building a Hemp Hub in Northern Illinois with Kifcure

Building a Hemp Hub in Northern Illinois with Kifcure

Author: Eric Hurlock, Digital Editor June 26, 2024 Duration: 1:54:03

This week on the Hemp Podcast, Lancaster Farming talks with Kelly Burke from Kifcure, an Illinois-based hemp company that is focused on developing the hemp industry in the Land of Lincoln.

Burke, along with her husband Jarett, have launched the Northern Illinois Hemp Hub, which recently hosted a hempcrete workshop in Maple Park, sixty miles west of Chicago.

They are also growing about 1000 aces of industrial hemp and are developing plans for a processing facility, industrial park, and education center.

On this episode, we will hear all about their endeavors, including Silver Acres, a hemp wedding venue and event space, and Silver Lining animal bedding.

Plus, we check in with Lancaster County Hemp farmer Steve Groff to hear how his hemp crop is holding up after two weeks of scorching heat and no rain.

All that, plus news nuggets and a few surprises.

Learn More:

Kifcure

https://kifcure.com/

Northern Illinois Hemp Hub

https://nihh.org/

News Nuggets

Think tank says 'Miller Amendment' would not ban CBD and other hemp cannabinoids

https://hemptoday.net/think-tank-says-miller-amendment-would-not-ban-cbd-and-other-hemp-cannabinoids/

'Hemp Killing' Amendment Would Not Ban All Hemp Cannabinoids, Says Leading Think Tank

https://businessofcannabis.com/hemp-killing-amendment-would-not-ban-all-hemp-cannabinoids-says-leading-think-tank/

New Congressional report finds hemp amendment consistent with Ag policy

https://www.greenmarketreport.com/new-congressional-report-finds-hemp-amendment-consistent-with-ag-policy/

Industrial Hemp Market Set to Surge to $25.7 Billion by 2034

https://mgmagazine.com/cannabis-news/industrial-hemp-market-set-to-surge-to-25-7-billion-by-2034/

Canadian hemp fields shrink for fourth straight year, reaching modern-day low

https://hemptoday.net/canadian-hemp-fields-shrink-for-fourth-straight-year-reaching-modern-day-low/

South Dakota No. 1 state in nation for hemp production

https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-hemp-production-sdiha-farm-bill/

Midwest flooding devastation comes into focus as flood warnings are extended in other areas

https://apnews.com/article/midwest-flooding-south-dakota-4b9fbfe8918e7a7e3c18178cb92b11a8

Thanks to our Sponsors!

IND HEMP

https://indhemp.com/

Forever Green

https://www.forevergreen.com/

Mpactful Ventures

https://www.mpactfulventures.org/

music by TIN BIRD SHADOW

www.tinbirdshadow.com


There’s a quiet revolution happening in fields and factories, and it’s centered on a single, versatile plant. Industrial Hemp Podcast, guided by Eric Hurlock, the Digital Editor at Lancaster Farming, moves beyond the headlines to explore what’s actually happening on the ground. This isn’t just theoretical discussion; it’s a direct line to the people driving the industry forward. Each episode features conversations with the farmers who are planting and harvesting these crops, facing very real agronomic challenges and opportunities. You’ll also hear from researchers, processors, and policy experts who are shaping the future of hemp for fiber, grain, and other industrial applications. The dialogue digs into the practicalities-from planting techniques and harvesting equipment to market trends, regulatory hurdles, and technological innovations that are changing the game. It’s a clear-eyed look at an agricultural sector finding its footing, reported by journalists with deep roots in farming communities. For anyone curious about the business, science, and sheer hard work behind industrial hemp, this podcast serves as an essential, grounded resource. Tune in for honest talk that cuts through the hype and gets to the root of this growing field.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Industrial Hemp Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Can the Goodness of Hemp Act Fix What's Broken in Hemp? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:20
This week Morgan Tweet returns to the Hemp Show to talk about the Goodness of Hemp Act, a draft legislation she's confident will set the broader hemp industry on the path toward sensible regulation. She was on the show l…
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This week on the Hemp Show we meet Sully Sullivan. He's the new executive director at the National Hemp Association — and what a time to be taking the helm of a hemp association. So much is up in the air right now. What…
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Duration: 48:18
This week on the Hemp Show, Claire Crunk returns. She is the founder of Trace Femcare, the worlds first hemp fiber tampon. Her first appearance on the podcast was in 2023. Her company was just a few weeks away from their…
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Duration: 24:45
This week on the show we talk with Ken Meyer of Complete Hemp Processing in Winfred, South Dakota. As of last week, Meyer is also a co-founder of Renewabuild Great Plains — the first U.S.-licensed manufacturer of structu…
Steve Groff and the Great Wall of Hemp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:36
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Getting From HempToday to Hemp Tomorrow with Kehrt Reyher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:01
This week on the Hemp Show, we talk to Kehrt Reyher, CEO and publisher of HempToday, a leading source of global hemp news. An American expat from Indiana who has lived in Poland for more than 30 years, Reyher cut his tee…
Maciej Kowalski: Be Your Own Supply Chain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:40
This week on the Hemp Show we talk to Maciej Kowalski, founder and CEO of Kombinat Konopni, a hemp company in Northern Poland. We hear how he built a vertically integrated company — from planting, harvesting, processing,…
Dakota Hemp: Building an Industry in South Dakota [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:02
This week on the Hemp Show, we're talking to the guys from Dakota Hemp in Wakonda, South Dakota. John Peterson and Karll Lecher are running a HempTrain decortication system, taking in bales from local farmers and turning…
Pushing Progress in the DC Swamp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:36
On this week's hemp show, we talk to a couple of hemp policy advocates who recently traveled to the swamps of D.C. in hopes of affecting change. This week we're joined by Geoff Whaling, chair of the National Hemp Associa…