Weather Variability in the Shenandoah Valley: A Study to Support the Industrial Hemp Industry
Channel: JMU ISAT
Date: 2017-07-02

Full Title: Weather Variability in the Shenandoah Valley: A Study to Support the Industrial Hemp Industry by Taylor Koontz
Advised by: Dr. Nicole Radziwill
Sponsors: Rodes and Walden Industrial Hemp Farms
Abstract: The Commonwealth of Virginia is trying to decide whether legalizing industrial hemp would be a good policy decision. As a result, they are allowing JMU to plant hemp and conduct research on the crop and biofuel yields. Because weather influences plant growth during the growing season, we need to understand weather variability (particularly temperatures, precipitation, and humidity) in the local area. This project takes the first step towards characterizing the microclimate of the Shenandoah Valley, with the ultimate goal of understanding what weather conditions (and farm locations) best support high hemp yields.