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The Brief• Congressman Dan Newhouse met with local farmers in Sunnyside and Grandview to discuss the growing popularity of hemp as an alternative crop• Farmers are switching from traditional apple and hop cultivation to hemp due to declining sales and revenue losses in recent years• Federal regulations in the House Agriculture Appropriation Bill threaten to restrict hemp products, prompting farmers to seek legislative changes
SUNNYSIDE, Wash. — Congressman Dan Newhouse met with local farmers Friday afternoon to learn why many Central Washington farmers are switching from growing hops and apples to hemp.Newhouse, who represents Washington’s 4th District, visited farmers in Sunnyside and Grandview. The shift comes as local farmers have grappled with challenging market conditions over the past few years, with traditional crops like apples and hops experiencing sales declines.Economic pressure has forced many farmers to try out new crops, and hemp has been one of the most popular.”We’re just trying to diversify and find something that can sustain our family and keep doing what I love to do, which is farming,” said Jacob Pettibone, owner of Leatherneck Farms.Many local farms are cultivating hemp for pharmaceutical and health purposes, which currently falls within federal regulatory guidelines. However, farmers face uncertainty due to proposed language changes in the House Agriculture Appropriation Bill that could restrict hemp and its products.The regulatory concerns have prompted farmers to seek Newhouse’s support in modifying the bill’s language. The congressman expressed his commitment to addressing these concerns.”Absolutely. There’s work going on right now to clarify to make sure that the words say what we want them to say and what we mean for them to say so that the industry can continue to grow and thrive,” Newhouse said.However, progress on addressing the appropriations bill faces immediate obstacles due to the ongoing government shutdown, which is expected to continue through the weekend. This delay means any changes to the legislation must wait until normal government operations resume.”It seems pretty simple that we should just reopen, get things back to normal, and get in the process of getting the appropriation bills done. I think we owe that to the American people,” Newhouse stated.
The hemp industry faces opposition from critics who argue that current regulations are too loose on hemp growers. Opponents say that products containing any level of THC should be banned.Critics also want to eliminate a loophole that allows hemp growers to produce intoxicating products without facing the same taxes and restrictions that apply to marijuana growers. COPYRIGHT 2025 BY APPLE VALLEY NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.”}]] 
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