What does South Dakota hemp make?

WAKONDA, S.D. (KELO) -- South Dakota's burgeoning hemp industry -- now in its 4th growing season -- offers the promise of a wide variety of applications and products supplied by a truly home-grown source.

When we look at hemp production, the most visible components are the actual cultivation of the plant and the retail applications. You can look at a field of hemp plants waving in the breeze, and you can put your hands on products such as hemp fabrics, CBD gummies or even hemp-based insulation.

Hemp grower, John Peterson of Dakota Hemp in Wakonda, provided an example of one of these applications, describing a variety of hemp he grows that is desirable for textile manufacturers.

"Well this variety here is FIBROR 79," said Peterson, walking among the crop. "In the last few weeks, it's started to turn yellow at the bottom. As this plant matures, it'll start to turn yellow way up to the top, and that's good for the textile industries as far as dying the fabric."

Karll Lecher is the COO for Peterson's hemp operation, and he gave some info on another product from hemp -- CBD.

"We grow about two acres each year for CBD; about 1,500 plants," said Lec...