
The Wiles family farm was among 10 in Nebraska that were selected to test the growing of hemp.
Midwest Hop Producers, Nebraska’s largest hop yard, is closing after six years of growing and processing hops.
Bruce and Annette Wiles said they gained a lot of insight introducing hops as a specialty crop in the state, and they’ll be able to capitalize on that experience with hemp.
The Wileses worked with others to develop key standards for the hops industry, creating a growers/brewers conference and hosting the Harvest Ale Festival.
The business had already weathered tornadoes and floods when COVID-19 hit. The challenges caused by the virus led to the decision to stop raising hops.
“We’ve had a great experience,” Annette Wiles said. “What we’ve learned about raising a specialty crop such as hops is invaluable.”
The farm is located on 60 acres just south of Plattsmouth.
The Wiles family farm was among 10 in Nebraska that were selected to test the growing of hemp, which is seen by some as a promising, lucrative crop. Hemp was once widely cultivated in the state.
Congress cleared the way for hemp farming by legalizing it in the 2018 farm bill. That prompted the Nebraska Legislature to pass a law in 2019 allowing cultivation to begin.
By law, hemp must have less than 0.3% THC (the high-inducing chemical in marijuana) to be legal.
Our best Omaha staff photos of January 2021

Players gather UNO goalie Isaiah Saville before the start of their game at Baxter Arena on Wednesday, December 09, 2021. Saville has "BLM" and a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. on his helmet.

Thomas Wilkins conducts the Omaha Symphony in a performance at the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021.

UNO's Claire Killianm left, tries to keep South Dakota State's Regan Nesheim from passing the ball late in the game at Baxter Arena on Friday, January 15, 2021.

A Nebraska license plate is seen covered in snow during a blizzard in Omaha on Friday, January 15, 2021.

Snow falls in front of a mural near 60th Street and Ames Avenue as a blizzard whips through Omaha on Friday, January 15, 2021.

Jon Jacobs cleans the snow off of his car in downtown Omaha as residents woke up to a blizzard warning on Friday, January 15, 2021. Jacobs works downtown.

About 50 Creighton students were moved into other campus housing after a ricin scare at Davis Square apartments late Thursday.

Creighton's Shereef Mitchell takes off on a fast break as St. John's Vince Cole, left, and Greg Williams Jr. pursue in the first half on Saturday, January 09, 2021.

Creighton's Alex O'Connell gets hit by a ball as St. John's Rasheem Dunn falls over while trying to grab the loose ball in the first half on Saturday, January 09, 2021.

Seniors Aysha Ridley and Quintin Idt work during a math readiness class at Gretna High School. The class is in partnership with Metro Community College.

The front room at the Hepburn home. Megan loves using color; she thinks it’s more fun for daughters Harriet and Georgie. She painted the flower picture.

Deer walk through snow at Zorinsky Lake in Omaha on Thursday, January 07, 2021.

Fog begins to lift as the downtown Omaha skyline starts to appear as viewed from the Lincoln Monument in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Monday, January 04, 2021.

Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner dunks the ball against Seton Hall's Ike Obiagu.

A snowball is thrown at a counterprotester driving by on K Street on the north side of the Nebraska State Capitol on Wednesday. Protesters had gathered to protest the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

The Holiday Lights Festival’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular fireworks show filled the sky over downtown Omaha Thursday.