In Illinois, the Telegraph reported a pending bill would allow two universities to study the feasibility of industrial hemp. While, the pending bill has already passed the Senate, Drug Czar McCaffrey opposed it in a letter to legislators. Lastly, Maryland adopted a bill to grow industrial hemp in a pilot project, reports AgFiber Technology News. It does not discuss the fact that most crops grown in the United States are uneconomical and that U.S. government policy deters the development of hemp markets in this country. According to an International Interior Design Association study, it is because they lack knowledge on sustainable alternatives, including information on their benefits, performance, application and color availability, reports GreenClips.
Invasive species have the potential to wreak havoc on American forests.
Accordingly, USDA Secretary Dan Glickman is visiting four invasive species hot spots in the United States. Furthermore, USDA is studying the environmental impact of methyl bromide use on wood from Mexico to kill invasive species. According to RAN the homebuilding industry uses 72 percent of the lumber consumed in the United States. The groups are close to reaching an agreement to keep loggers out of certain pristine coastal forests for 18 months, while environmentalists stop pressuring customers to shun the companies' products. It will have information about the Ag Fiber Technology Showcase to be held in Memphis, Tennessee from October 4 to 6, 2000.