Farmers across have been anxiously waiting for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release its framework rules for regulating the production of hemp. Yesterday, USDA unveiled its U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. This means the rules are ready for the 2020 growing season.
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said the program will require all growers to be licensed and that testing will occur to make sure the hemp falls under certain guidelines. Producers will also have access to risk management tools just like any other crop producer.
Under the program, producers and Native Tribes must submit their plans for hemp production programs to the USDA for approval. The USDA will work with growers in those states, as well as growers in states without guidelines, provided there is no state law prohibiting hemp production. States which prohibit the growth of hemp are not allowed to stop the interstate shipment of hemp grown in compliant states.
The interim rule will become effective once it is published in the Federal Register on October 31st. USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach says this will allow USDA to use 2020 as a test drive to work out any kinks in the program before they submit a finalized list of guidelines.
Ibach addressed questions that are generally raised regarding testing. Samples will be collected by approved gatherers within 15 days of the anticipated harvest. The tests will be conducted in an authorized Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory.
The main reason for this testing is to verify the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) level. Anything greater than a .3 THC measurement is marijuana and not hemp. USDA Undersecretary Ibach explains more.
Ibach says The USDA will work with states and tribes to implement their hemp programs as quickly as possible.
USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey says all farm programs and risk management tools will be available to hemp producers for the 2020 growing season.
Undersecretary Northey explains how producers can qualify for these programs.
A copy of the interim rule can be found here.
In response to this announcement, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig released a statement saying Iowa would begin its application progress to develop a hemp production program with USDA.
?We look forward to reviewing the proposed hemp program rules provided by the USDA,? said Secretary Naig. ?We will use this information to refine Iowa?s draft hemp plan before we submit it to USDA for approval. USDA will have 60 days to review and respond to our plan. We are working hard to have Iowa?s hemp program implemented in time for the 2020 growing season.?
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is also drafting administrative rules that will be released for public comment in the coming weeks.
?In the meantime, we want to caution people that it is not legal to cultivate, grow or distribute hemp in Iowa until the USDA approves our state plan,? said Naig. ?We also encourage growers to make sure they have quality seed and a buyer identified before they invest in hemp production.?
More information on Iowa?s plans can be found right here.
