MONROE — Dale Grossen, a second-generation farmer working land south of Monroe, wakes up each day to milk around 55 cows. 

Crops span 220 acres on the land his father first established as the family farm in the early 1950s. But as small farms face plummeting milk prices and devalued crops, Dale is among many looking for a lifeline. He and other farmers are looking to save the land worked for generations by themselves and their ancestors before them.

At 56, Dale has three grown children. His wife, Gail, has a job outside the home. He still spends his days working, but recent years have admittedly brought adversity.

“I’m doing it for nothing,” Dale said.

A law was passed November 2017 by the Wisconsin Legislature to allow farmers throughout the state to grow hemp, behind at least 30 other states that had already legalized hemp farming. Under the law, hemp plants cannot contain more than 0.3 percent of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. 

Hemp farming hasn’t been legal in Wisconsin since 1957.

Dale’s son, Ben, has watched his father work seven days a week, morning and night, only to remain revenue neutral. He brought the idea of growing hemp to his father after following Mark Hubbard, a cousin through his mother’s side and Washington native, on social media. Hubbard serves as a consultant for the hemp industry. 

“The American dream is dead; from the farming aspect anyway,” Ben said. “It’s rough to see my dad struggling and other farms closing.”

When he approached his father to grow hemp on his farm land, Dale said he hadn’t heard of Cannabidiol, or CBD oil. His son’s persistence piqued his interest enough to start researching on his own.

Hemp was once a booming Wisconsin industry and was grown in the 1950s to be used mostly for its fiber to make rope. Today, it’s on shelves for a different reason. 

CBD oil, extracted from the hemp plant, is becoming known for its potential role in treating many common health issues, including anxiety, depression, acne and heart disease. It can also provide pain and symptom relief for several other things. However, findings have not been confirmed by sufficient research to establish uses in clinical practice. 

CBD oil does not contain the compound that causes mind-altering effects or makes a person “high” when used. Mark said the negative connotation attached to marijuana can sometimes steer people away. 

“Sometimes, people have to be hurt to accept this plant,” Mark said.  “This is something that changes people’s lives and you can’t deny that.”

Dale said he’s started taking the oil and has noticed a decrease in inflammation in his bad knees from decades of farm work.  

“We’re kind of pioneers on this,” Dale said. “There’s no opportunity for small dairies anymore.”

Mark now serves as the CEO of GroHub Farms. He helped the Grossens get started as they vetted 14 strains of hemp on 35 acres of land this year. Greg Hubbard, another family member and lobbyist who works in government affairs, also came on board. 

As trailblazers for Wisconsin hemp growing, all of the men admit the first year was more learning than immediate success. In the first two weeks, because of unexpected moisture, wind and rain, nearly 5,000 plants were lost. Later on, they battled deer, raccoons and even some field theft, Mark said. 

“There’s a huge learning curve,” Greg said. “It’s a lot of trial.”

Hemp is harvested in the fall. The industry isn’t mechanized which makes things labor intensive. The crop operates like a vegetable garden and, according to Ben, needs “love and attention.” There are no approved pesticides or herbicides. 

The five-week harvest period happens as plants ripen, but in Wisconsin, they brink on the worry of frost, sometimes limiting that time frame. 

“I think it grows really well here,” Dale said.

Once harvested and dried, the hemp is sold to processors that turn it into CBD oil. Selling it became difficult without a Farm Bill to provide clear rules and protection for what can legally cross state lines. 

The group agrees that they have enough success and investment to try it all again next year, using all they’ve learned. Currently, thousands of pounds are drying, with rows of vertical walls of hemp woven into chicken wire 15 feet high. Mark said more than half of the hemp is sold, but final numbers won’t be in until it’s all sold, which will make the profitability for the year clear. 

Some people donated time to help in order to see the process; other part timers were hired to get through the acreage during the labor heavy harvest time. Interested neighbors have reached out to Dale and Ben — many of them also looking for ways to make a living off of their farmland. 

“There is lots of interest,” Ben said. “They’re looking for something else. I hear their stories all the time.” 

Dale is open to sharing his experiences during the first year with anyone interested. He knows too well what it’s like to be working all day, every day for nothing. 

“Everybody’s got an ounce of pain — so why not try it,” Dale said.

GroHub Farms also sells lotions, balms, tinctures and more online at grohubfarm.com, is active on Facebook and is sold at a few local vendors as well. 

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Bureau spokesperson Donna Gilson said there are no final numbers for the first hemp harvest yet, since growers have until next week to submit final reports. 

“I think it was all over the board,” Gilson said. “Some had great crops and held field days, others didn’t get a crop in the ground.”

About 240 growers and 100 processors were licensed this year, and about 135 growers reported actually planting a crop over about 1,850 acres in fields and 23 acres in greenhouses.

“We were happily taken aback by the sheer level of interest for the program,” Gilson said.

The difficult growing season that included a cold, wet spring and rainy summer made things hard for almost everyone, Gilson said. She added that they call it a “pilot project” because it’s a learning experience for everyone, including them. They’re tweaking forms and applications to better suit growers.

Growers pay a one-time licensing fee of $150 to $1,000 depending on how many acres they intend to plant. Processors also need a one-time license at no cost. The annual registration fee for growers is $350 and $100 for processors. 

With the Farm Bill now making its way through, Gilson said it will help provide more legal certainty for growers. Industrial hemp is currently technically still on the controlled substances list, and the bill would help make it legal to transport and cross state lines. However, she isn’t sure what support, if any, it will provide for the CBD oil. 

According to DATCP, the deadline to apply for industrial hemp grower and processor licenses and registrations has been extended through March 1. The new deadline is for both new applicants and those renewing their registrations for the 2019 growing season. Applications and other information about the industrial hemp program can be found at datcp.wi.gov under a search for “industrial hemp” or by using the link on the homepage.

Mark said he is grateful for the help that came from DATCP throughout the process and Dale said looking into next year will likely bring different practices and crops, but likely more trial and error as well. 

“I’m still not sold on it yet,” Dale said. “I’m still committed to my dairy farm. But small farms need a niche.”