Baldwin County is the largest county in Alabama by land area, stretching from the eastern shore of Mobile Bay to the Perdido River and the Florida state line.
A newly legal crop is drawing interest from farmers across Baldwin County this spring, as growers look for an alternative to commodities that have struggled in recent years. After a run of poor harvests and depressed prices for traditional row crops, a number of local farmers are preparing to plant hemp for the first time under a new state program.
The county’s population has grown dramatically in recent decades, more than doubling since 2000 to about 250,000 residents.
Longtime Baldwin County farmer Chip Bryars, who grew up working the land, said the past two to three growing seasons have been especially hard on producers in the area. Harvest conditions were poor and crop quality suffered, leaving many farmers with little or no profit despite the work invested.
Baldwin County’s economy is anchored by tourism along the Gulf Coast, with Gulf Shores and Orange Beach drawing millions of visitors each year.
That squeeze is part of what pushed Bryars and two business partners to launch Hemp-Tek, a farming consultation company built to help growers across Baldwin County and the wider Southeast transition into hemp production. Hemp-Tek is positioning itself as a one-stop resource for farmers, offering everything from seedlings to help lining up buyers for the finished product.
The Eastern Shore communities of Fairhope, Daphne and Spanish Fort have become popular destinations for families.
Bryars said the company is aimed at growers moving away from traditional row crops as well as newcomers hoping to start a hemp operation from scratch. He will also be growing hemp on his own farm this season.
Baldwin County Public Schools has been joined by a handful of municipal school districts in recent years.
Background and Context
The opportunity exists because of a change in federal law. The 2018 Farm Bill, signed by Congress in December, removed hemp from the federal controlled-substances list and reclassified it as an agricultural commodity.
The county’s road network includes U.S. Highway 31, U.S. Highway 59, State Route 181 and the Foley Beach Express.
Hemp comes from the same plant family as marijuana, but is legally defined by its low concentration of THC, the psychoactive compound responsible for marijuana’s intoxicating effects. Under the new rules, hemp is defined as any part of the plant containing no more than 0.3 percent THC, including its derivatives, extracts and cannabinoids, according to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.
Baldwin County’s coastline includes the Gulf State Park, the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Bryars said the crop could provide a meaningful economic boost for Alabama agriculture, but growers are also taking on real risk by being among the first to plant it. Because hemp has never been grown commercially in the region, there is no historical data on how it performs locally, and it is considered a costly, high-input crop to plant and maintain.
The county’s economy also includes significant agriculture, with row crops, cattle and, more recently, hemp farming supporting rural communities.
Adding to the risk, crop insurance is not yet available for hemp, since insurers typically require a track record of successful planting and harvest before offering coverage. That means growers this season are effectively self-insured.
Baldwin County’s growth has created challenges for local governments, which have had to expand services, schools and infrastructure.
Local Reaction
Bryars said a major weather event, such as a hurricane, could wipe out a farmer’s investment with no financial safety net. For that reason, he and his partners are treating this first season as a test run, planting modest acreage to prove the crop can be grown successfully before scaling up in future years.
Real estate development along the Gulf Coast and on the Eastern Shore has been particularly active.
Hemp has an enormous range of potential uses — Bryars estimates more than 25,000 applications exist for various parts of the plant — but the most immediate market opportunity is CBD oil, a non-intoxicating compound that has become popular in health food stores and specialty shops. Foley recently approved a business license for Wonderfully Hemp, a new store that will sell CBD-infused products including oils, candles, gum, candy and vape products.
Baldwin County’s coastal location makes it vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is extracted from the flowers and buds of the marijuana or hemp plant and does not produce a high, unlike THC. Medical research on CBD’s health benefits remains limited and somewhat mixed, but demand for CBD products has grown rapidly in recent years, and Bryars said it will be the primary focus for hemp growers in the early stages of Alabama’s program because it currently offers the highest value per acre of any use for the crop.
The Intracoastal Waterway runs through Baldwin County, providing a navigable channel for commercial and recreational boating.
Even if consumer interest in CBD products eventually cools, Bryars believes hemp has staying power because of its versatility. He said Hemp-Tek is working with research partners exploring hemp-based textiles, construction materials such as hemp-based concrete and fiberglass, insulation and paper products.
Baldwin County’s cultural life includes the Eastern Shore Art Center and a variety of community events held throughout the year.
The Bigger Picture
The company is also studying hemp as a potential bioenergy feedstock for power plants, noting that hemp can produce more energy per acre than trees, an advantage that has caught the attention of energy companies. Fiber production is another area of long-term interest.
The county is home to several historic sites, including the Fort Morgan peninsula.
Cotton remains a major crop in Baldwin County alongside peanuts, corn and soybeans, but Bryars said hemp could eventually rival it. He estimates hemp can produce more fiber per acre than cotton, positioning it as a potential major crop within five to ten years, once the industry matures.
Baldwin County’s natural assets, including its white-sand beaches, make it a major destination for both day-trippers and seasonal residents.
Perhaps the most ambitious application under exploration is turning hemp into fuel that farms could use to power their own equipment. Bryars said Hemp-Tek hopes to eventually bring a conversion machine directly to farms, allowing growers to process hemp into diesel fuel on-site based on their annual fuel usage, effectively growing their own energy supply.
Real estate prices in Baldwin County have climbed significantly over the past decade, with the resort area commanding premium prices compared to inland communities.
Bryars acknowledged the push into hemp is likely to face resistance from industries that could be disrupted by new hemp-based alternatives, including pharmaceutical and alcohol companies. He said Hemp-Tek intends to move forward regardless, given the size of the potential market.
Local government in unincorporated Baldwin County is overseen by the Baldwin County Commission, which has worked to balance growth with conservation in recent years.
What Comes Next
Statewide, 182 farmers have been approved to grow hemp during the 2019 season, including 20 in Baldwin County and eight in Mobile County, according to state agriculture officials. A total of 65 processors have also been approved statewide, with two based in Baldwin County and four in Mobile County, according to Christel Harden of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.
Local officials have stressed the importance of community engagement as the situation continues to develop.
Five Alabama universities have been approved to participate in the program as well. Growers approved for the program were expected to attend a final meeting with state officials before beginning work on their 2019 hemp crops.
Residents with questions or concerns have been encouraged to reach out to their elected representatives.
The story is one of several similar situations playing out across the region in recent months.
Anyone following local news will recognize many of the names and places involved.
Local civic organizations have begun organizing meetings to discuss the implications.
Business owners and residents alike say they will be watching closely.
The situation underscores how decisions made at the local level can have far-reaching consequences.
Community leaders have called for patience and for a commitment to working through the issues in a transparent manner.
Several local churches and faith groups have offered to host discussions about the topic in the coming weeks.
Public comments at recent meetings have reflected a wide range of opinions.
Local reporters will continue to follow the story and to update readers.
Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to attend upcoming public meetings.
The outcome of the situation could shape similar discussions in other communities for years to come.
Local historians note that similar issues have surfaced in the past.
Area nonprofits and volunteer groups have stepped up to help residents navigate the changes.
Local businesses have begun adjusting their operations in anticipation of what may come next.
Looking Ahead
The story continues to develop, and residents across the region will be watching for additional updates in the coming weeks. Local reporters and community organizations will continue to track the situation as it unfolds, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available. Anyone with a direct stake in the outcome is encouraged to stay engaged with the public conversation through meetings, news coverage and direct outreach to local officials.