The US state of Florida, known for its oranges, is now positioning itself as a national leader in the field of agricultural hemp, according to a bill sent to Florida Governor Ron De Santis.

The state Senate unanimously passed a bill to create a hemp agricultural program, which is seen as a way to help farmers affected by hurricanes and affected by citrus diseases.

The U.S. Federal Agriculture Act passed in 2018 gave the state the opportunity to develop a hemp cultivation program that could be submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for approval.

“Florida will be one of the first states to operate in this developing space,” said Republican Florida Senator Rob Bradley.

According to Florida Commissioner for Agriculture Nikki Fried, “Florida’s ability to grow hemp year-round and a large number of ports allow the state to lead in production and export. We have the right environment, we have the right conditions, and we have the right members of the agricultural community, who are some of the most volitional people in the state, and they are going to use it for prosperity. ”