By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Texas farmers can now submit applications for a license to grow hemp in the Lone Star State.
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) began accepting applications on Monday, March 16.
“This is the final step in the regulatory process for Texas farmers to grow hemp,” Brant Wilbourn, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said.
Any individual who plans to produce, handle, sample or collect hemp at any location in Texas will be required to annually submit a completed license application.
A $100 fee must accompany the application, renewal or modification of a license.
Applicants must be 18 years or older. If individuals have been convicted of a felony related to a controlled substance under federal or state law, they may not, before the tenth anniversary of the date of conviction, apply for a hemp license.
Once an application is approved, the license holder will apply for a producer or handlers permit to plant an area known as a “lot” in hemp. This license will require the following information:
- Street address and geospatial location, including GPS for each facility where hemp will be cultivated or stored; and
- Proof of ownership or control over the location where hemp will be cultivated or stored
- Anticipated dates of cultivation; and
- All other information required by TDA.
Applications are available online at https://www.texasagriculture.gov/RegulatoryPrograms/Hemp.aspx.
Official dates will be posted soon for those who wish to register a hemp processing entity with TDA.
Hemp can be used for textiles, clothing, oils, industrial products and food.
But growers could be facing low prices and a steep learning curve on how best to grow the crop, sell it and navigate the complex regulatory framework surrounding it.
“As Texas gets ready to kick off its first hemp growing season, the market isn’t as favorable as it was a few months ago,” Wilbourn said. “Many farmers will likely still apply for their license, even if they don’t plant as many acres as they had originally planned.”
The process to grow hemp in Texas began with the 2018 Farm Bill, which set the state for hemp to be legalized nationwide.
Since Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 1325 and legalized hemp production in Texas last summer, TDA worked to develop rules and testing requirements for the crop
TDA held a public comment hearing on the state’s hemp rules earlier this year, and USDA approved Texas’ hemp plan in late January.
Need to stop to this
@Bryan
What?!? Growing hemp?!? Do you own a paper mill or something (inside joke)?!?
Its hemp. NOT marijuana. A lot of people are confused regarding this. The only difference from “hemp” and “marijuana” is the level of Δ9-THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid) If you’re concerned about recreational use of this product, you would literally have to smoke a telephone pole to get stoned.
I’d like to direct you to the medical research performed by Californians. Here’s a synopsis. All humans have an endocannabinoid system in there body. Think of cannabis as an herbal supplement specifically for that system. Overly simplified, this systems’ role in the body is to create homeostasis (a perfect balance).
The cannabis plant contains over a 100 active cannabinoids (some of which are almost identical to the ones the brain is supposed to make). To my knowledge, no other plant on Earth can match it whenitcomes to cannabinoid levels!
A lot of users have reported that they’ve received holistic results as an alternative to pharmaceuticals. I’ve personally heard testimonies of people who quit smoking marijuana because they preferred hemp instead. Hemp offers them the holistic benefits without the often pursued recreational effects of marijuana.
If your post was written with BAN as the intent, I hope your personal policies regarding tobbacco and alcohol are as equally harsh.
Tobacco – 480,000+ deaths year
Alcohol – 1,000,000+ reported drunk driving cases with over 10k+ deaths a year (the deaths are often the victims hence M.A.D.D.)
Do you think Tobacco and Alcohol should be banned? If not, I wonder why exactly.
People really need to take a closer look at this.
Poor plant has been demonized. Thank you “Reefer Madness”…
CBD oil is a miracle! After suffering from debilitating back pain from among other things, a broken back, I discovered CBD oil and now I don’t need hydrocodone anymore!!! I thank God for this miracle plant and I’m quite disgusted that our government has kept it from the people for so long!!!
Also fixed my migraines and ankle pain since I have titanium in my ankle.
When I turn 18 I’m gonna apply and do this is it hard to get in or can anyone give me some advice thanks
It takes time, land, abundant financial resources, extreme patience filing and doing paperwork, and a costing spreadsheet with master skills to constantly balance your budget and squeeze out .06% profit margin. So think about investing $200,000 to return $12,000 in about a year. You’re better off working for Mc Donald’s.
Can a Texan grow a few hemp plants around the house? In pots or just in the yard…