The conversation on the future of industrial hemp frequently segues into a discussion about chicken and eggs. But it’s not about poultry; it’s about the supply chain.

“Right now, that’s the issue — the chicken and the egg,” said Chris Berry, chief operating officer of the Illinois Hemp Growers Association.

Hemp is not a new crop. Versions of cannabis sativa have been grown for thousands of years. As late as the early 20th century, it was grown extensively in the United States, where its fiber was used for rope and other products. The word “canvas” is derived from “cannabis.”

The crop fell out of favor when the government became concerned about its connection to marijuana, a psychoactive drug made from the same base plant. A relaxation of laws nationally and in several states regarding production came into play a few years ago, with regulation mandating that industrial hemp contain only small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the substance that produces the high from marijuana.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa — Greg Nicholas laughs at the image he suspects most people have of a hemp farmer. He doesn’t wear tie-died shirts or headbands. He doesn’t sport a beard. There is no Grateful Dead playing in the background.

“I’ve never even smoked a cigarette,” he says.