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WINFRED, S.D. — While the industrial hemp industry in South Dakota continues to boom with the addition of new growers and processing facilities, the state’s industry has also caught the attention of agricultural producers from overseas in Ukraine.
A delegation of Ukrainian farmers journeyed from Ukraine to South Dakota the week of Jan. 27 – 31 to get a firsthand look at industrial hemp in the state. The group was interested in learning about the production, processing, and market potential of hemp, with the aim of integrating it into their agricultural rotations back home.
This visit, hosted by the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Association, was set into motion by Richard Leep, a retired agronomist from Michigan. Leep works with a program called BRIDGES, which helps farmers and agricultural companies to organize tailored agribusiness tours to the United States and other countries.
Leep had been approached by the Ukrainian farmers about the possibility of incorporating hemp into their 80,000-hectare or almost 200,000-acre operation. He recognized South Dakota as a leader in hemp production and processing.
Oleg Zapletnyuk, a Ukrainian farmer on the trip, said they currently raise crops like corn, soybeans, winter wheat, and sunflowers, but are looking to diversify their rotations.
Kennedy Tesch / Agweek
“The climate is changing rapidly in Ukraine and we have a lot of fields that were mined, or there were some explosions, and hemp has the possibility to recycle the heavy metals in the soil,” Zapletnyuk said. “You always need to have some crops that will balance your income in the future, so hemp may be that one.”
The week-long tour included a variety of activities aimed at showcasing the state’s hemp industry. The group got to visit the State Capitol in Pierre, where they sat in on a legislative session to see Gov. Larry Rhoden’s swearing-in, and witnessed debates on bills, including one about displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms. They also attended the annual Industrial Hemp Association’s legislative reception to connect with lawmakers about the future of hemp farming in South Dakota.
Kennedy Tesch / Agweek
Ken Meyer, president of the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Association, said it was a great opportunity for the group to not only learn more about the hemp industry, but to also witness the state’s government in action.
“They really came here to see the hemp industry up close,” Meyer said. “It was about educating them on everything from growing hemp to processing it.”
They also had the opportunity to visit a South Dakota farm with a visit to Al Meier’s farm in Hayes, and later visited his seed-cleaning facility in Wessington Springs.
Meyer, who co-founded Complete Hemp Processing in Winfred, provided a tour of the hemp processing facility, where raw hemp stalks are turned into usable materials for a variety of industries.
“We receive large round bales of hemp stalks and process them into different components,” Meyer said. “The primary products are the bast fiber, which is the outer bark of the hemp plant, and the hemp hurd, which is the inner woody material. Both are used in markets like bio composites, building materials, and even plastics.”
The group from Ukraine were eager to learn how they could apply similar techniques to their own large-scale operations back in Ukraine. Meyer emphasized the importance of processing facilities in making hemp a viable crop.
“With their scale, it makes sense for them to consider building their own processing plant. They could produce materials at a large scale to meet both local and international demand,” Meyer said.
In addition to the technical tours, the group visited South Dakota State University’s Raven Precision Agriculture Center where they spoke with students and professors involved in cutting-edge agricultural research, particularly around precision farming and sustainable practices.
The group also visited the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center near Sioux Falls. There, they were shown how satellite imagery was used to track the impact of the destruction of a dam in Ukraine—an event that had significant implications for Ukraine’s agricultural sector. The analysis helped calm market fears that the war would have a long-term impact on crop production.
Kennedy Tesch / Agweek
“The Ukrainian farmers really appreciated this,” Meyer said. “It was a personal connection to the challenges they face back home, and it helped them see how data and technology can play a role in agriculture, even in times of crisis.”
The trip ended with a visit to the Lower Sioux Tribe in Morton, Minnesota, where the group saw firsthand how the tribe is using hemp in building construction, also known as hempcrete, a highly durable and sustainable material made from hemp and lime. Meyer said this was a pivotal learning experience for the group, as they saw how hemp can be utilized not just for agricultural purposes, but for construction and other industries as well.
The visit also forged valuable international connections between the Ukrainian farmers and South Dakota’s hemp producers, setting the stage for future collaborations.
“We have a lot of answers to our questions according to technology and seeds and so on and so on,” Zapletnyuk said. “A lot of really interesting information, a lot of good people. That’s the main point — is the good people, because everyone we have met is an open person.”
Meyer said the visit sparked many good conversations and while the Ukrainian group was here to learn about South Dakota agriculture, it also provided an experience for members of South Dakota’s hemp industry to learn more about Ukraine.
“They brought a very expert group. They are also people that we can continue to have contact with as markets develop to really strengthen each other,” Meyer said. “I really learned about the scale of their agriculture. It’s very important to their country, and especially important right now in times of war, and it’s important to the world. Sometimes there’s been parts of the war where everybody’s worked out for the food that they export to go out so that we don’t have famine issues or other complications because their crops aren’t getting to market.”
“}]] The South Dakota Industrial Hemp Association hosted a group of farmers from Ukraine the week of Jan. 27 – 31 to give them an up close look at South Dakota’s booming industry. Read More
