Legal hemp production is still a year away, but those who are licensed to conduct research on the crop are already hard at work in Michiana.

Hemp can be handled this year by those who have the research license, and that’s what’s being conducted in two greenhouses outside of Eau Claire.

The work is being done by a trio from Berrien Springs who believe the crop could help save a number of struggling farms across The Great Lakes State. Much of their work is devoted to extracting CBD Oil, with the remaining biomass converted into fuel for heaters.

A Colorado company is also doing hemp research off US 12 in Michigan City, also working to extract CBD Oil.

More laws for handling the crop need to be established before the first commercial crop in nearly a century can be harvested in 2020.