Melissa Nelson-Baldwin

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Farming and Processing Industrial Hemp

Melissa Nelson-Baldwin, Owner / Field Scientist at Performance Crop Research, LLC and  Co-Owner,  South Bend Industrial Hemp

This presentation will provide experiences from  farming and processing industrial hemp.  The presentation will explore lessons learned from decades of farming experience and the similarities between hemp and the other grain crops grown on their 2,500-acre farm near Great Bend, Kansas.  As with many of these traditional crops, South Bend Industrial Hemp started growing hemp as a dual-crop—that is, harvesting both fiber and grain from the same plant. We will explore the challenge of how to figure  out just how to grow hemp alongside other crops as well as in the processing side.

Melissa Nelson is the owner and field research scientist at Performance Crop Research, an independent crop research facility in Great Bend, Kansas. Melissa works with a variety of companies around the world collecting data on crops grown in the Midwest with a focus on soil health, residues, and efficacy of new chemistries and varieties. 

Melissa is also co-owner of South Bend Industrial Hemp. South Bend focuses on helping grow the hemp industry in Kansas. South Bend also grows dual purpose varieties and is working towards developing the grain and fiber industry. Their goal is to provide support for farmers and create grower's groups to supply South Bend's decortication facility. Education and being advocates for agriculture is a passion of Melissa's.