Agriculture Commissioner James Comer

Kentucky House Ag Committee Chair Blocks Vote on Hemp Bill

Kenny Colston — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:37:20 +0000

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House Agriculture Committee chairman blocked a vote on the hemp bill on Wednesday morning after a tense exchange with a Republican supporter of the legislation.

The hemp bill would create a regulatory framework in Kentucky, should the federal government legalize it.

Agriculture Education, New Markets Focused in New 5-Year Strategic Plan

Kenny Colston — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:02:03 +0000

Kentucky's agriculture leaders are supporting a new five year strategic plan to help the industry in the state.

The plan, put together by the Kentucky Agriculture Council, puts emphasis on agriculture education, creating new markets and recruiting new people to farming.

The plan runs through 2018 and has the support of Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer.

Gov. Steve Beshear also supports the plan, which he says is a extension of the first agriculture strategic plan presented to him five years ago.

Kentucky State Senate Passes Hemp Bill

Kenny Colston — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:20:56 +0000

FRANKFORT — The state Senate has passed a bill aimed at creating a hemp industry in Kentucky, though the bill's future appears to lack the support of key government leaders.

Hemp Bill Sails Through Kentucky Senate Agriculture Committee

Kenny Colston — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:22:00 +0000

FRANKFORT — After testimony from a bevy of high-level supporters, the state Senate agriculture committee unanimously approved Monday a bill that would establish oversight for Kentucky industrial hemp farmer if hemp were made legal federally.

Hemp Gaining Momentum in General Assembly

Kenny Colston — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Support is clearly growing behind Agriculture Commissioner James Comer's efforts for industrial hemp in Kentucky are growing.

Call it hempmentum.

With last week's endorsement from U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, Comer now has the majority of Kentucky's federal delegation behind him.

Kentucky Chamber Joins Hemp Supporters

Kenny Colston — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 20:30:24 +0000

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer has landed a high-profile supporter for his efforts to legalize hemp in Kentucky.

The state’s largest business group, the Kentucky Chamber, has come out in support of industrial hemp for oil and fiber, provided there is a sound regulatory process.

Many of the state’s federal lawmakers support the issue as well, including Congressmen Andy Barr, John Yarmuth and Thomas Massie and Senator Rand Paul.

A bill to legalize hemp was filed in the Kentucky Senate Friday by the agriculture committee chair.

Comer Criticizes EPA's Role in Floyds Fork Rehabilitation

Erica Peterson — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:07:20 +0000

Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture is worried that a process to map pollution in the Floyds Fork watershed could end up having lasting effects on agriculture policy.

James Comer expressed his concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency on Facebook and in a statewide agriculture newsletter. Here’s what he said on Facebook:

Gov. Steve Beshear: Law Enforcement Issues with Hemp Must Be Worked Out

Kenny Colston — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Before he joins the call for legalized industrial hemp, Gov. Steve Beshear wants law enforcement officials to resolve their concerns about the issue.

The issue: Some Kentucky officials believe legalized industrial hemp would be good for Kentucky's economy, but law enforcement officials are concerned that such a move would conflict with efforts to crack down on marijuana growers.

“I think we’re going to have to answer those questions before we can really move forward in the industrial hemp area,” Beshear said.

Hemp Industry Won't Grow Overnight, Agriculture Economists Say

Kenny Colston — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 13:05:00 +0000

As Kentucky and federal lawmakers consider legalizing industrial hemp, the chair of the University of Kentucky's agriculture economics department notes that such an industry won't rise overnight.

It's a matter of economic viability. The main question being: With corn, soybeans and other crops selling at record high levels, what would entice farmers to switch to hemp instead?

Hemp Commission Will Work on Proposal, Economic Impact Study

Kenny Colston — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:43:33 +0000

The second meeting of the state’s Industrial Hemp Commission will soon begin sorting through the details of its efforts to bring legalized hemp to Kentucky.

The commission will work on the details of a new legislative bill proposal, such what the bill will include and which legisators will sponsor it during the 2013 session, said the chairman, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer.

Comer says another detail will be to pick a state university to commission a new economic study of legalizing industrial hemp in Kentucky.