Pikeville businessman Roger Ford has joined the newly-formed National Hemp Growers Cooperative, LLC as a Founding Partner. The cooperative’s headquarters is in Jackson, Mississippi.
Ford, according to a statement, is helping lead efforts to build a nation-wide network of state affiliated cooperatives with the sole purpose of serving member growers and farmers in the growth of hemp and establishing full operations in the first half of 2020.
Ford, the statement said, is a long-time hemp advocate and has worked on research and development of the use of hemp as crop to integrate with fossil fuels, including both coal and natural gas, to produce synthesis fuels and others processed industrial materials. He co-authored a study on the use of hemp as a blending material to reduce the emissions at coal-fired power plants.
His company, Eureka Energy Corporation, based in Sheridan, Wyoming, according to the statement, is focused on the use of hemp and biomass waste material to produce renewable synthesis gas that will be used in the company’s alternative fuel program.
Ford says the NHGC was created for one reason — assist its members to build wealth.
“Our commitment is solely to the growers and the farmers who are members, or will be members, of NHGC,” Ford said. “We are committed to giving them the resources to make their business successful, to build wealth for their businesses and their families, and to provide stability going forward for a burgeoning industry where we want them to succeed. With unity comes strength, and this organization is committed to building a strong and vibrant organization for its members, in unity of purpose.”
The statement said the NHGC plans to assist growers with best management practice consulting, as well as seed and clone purchases, finance, insurance, processing, and sales to maximize the profit for the membership.
