Virginia’s very first industrial hemp crop in more than 80 years has just been harvested, but as Charles Fishburne reports, for some farmers it came with some unexpected consequences.
Transcript:
Charles Fishburne: Some Virginia hemp farmers have reported thieves have attempted to rip their crop right out of the ground.
Maj. William Knott: They were going out pulling up the whole plant by the roots.
Maj. William Knott, Chief Deputy, Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office
Maj. Knott: T hrowing them in the trunk of the car…just making off with them.
Fishburne: He says the trouble began about harvest time.
Maj. Knott: Somewhere between 15 and 20 people have been arrested.
Fishburne: nd that was just on one farm, in one county.
Elaine Lidholme: We have issued 1182 grower registrations.
Fishburne: Virginia Department of Agriculture Spokesperson Elaine Lidholme says she has heard several reports of farmers having to guard their crops:
Lidholme: I have heard of farmers who said that people were carrying firearms so some of the farmers started doing it themselves.
Fishburne: There are no reports of anybody being injured.
Charles Fishburne, VPM News.