The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Tuesday, Oct. 29, announced the regulations and guidelines for domestic industrial hemp production, giving farmers a roadmap for the 2020 growing season.
“At USDA, we are always excited when there are new economic opportunities for our farmers, and we hope the ability to grow hemp will pave the way for new products and markets,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said. “We have had teams operating with all hands-on-deck to develop a regulatory framework that meets Congressional intent while seeking to provide a fair, consistent, and science-based process for states, tribes and individual producers who want to participate in this program.”
The interim final hemp production rule creates much-needed standards for production, testing and licensing.
“This is the long-awaited interpretation from USDA of what Congress passed in the 2018 Farm Bill as it relates to the legalization of hemp,” Scott Bennett, Congressional Relations director at American Farm Bureau Federation, said. “This interim final rule provides clarity to producers on everything from crop insurance, THC testing methods, crop destruction protocols to interstate commerce.”
Hemp farmers have struggled getting financing for their operations as the banking industry needed guidance from USDA. Bennett noted the interim final rule allows bankers to serve the hemp industry.
“The banking industry largely has awaited these regulations in order to develop guidance regarding deposits derived from hemp operations,” Bennett said. “Without these regulations, the banking industry hasn’t been willing to take the risk of accepting deposits or lending money to these businesses. So, we see this as a positive enforcement of receiving financing for your hemp operation.”
USDA also developed guidelines for sampling and testing procedures that are being issued concurrently with this rule. These documents provide additional information for sampling agents and hemp testing laboratories.
More information about the provisions of the interim final rule is available on the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program web page on the Agricultural Marketing Service website.
Once state and tribal plans are in place, hemp producers will be eligible for a number of USDA programs, including insurance coverage through Whole-Farm Revenue Protection. For information on available programs, visit farmers.gov/hemp.
Farmers should review the hemp production rule and provide feedback to USDA.
The public can provide comment through the Federal Register for a period of 60 days beginning Oct. 31.
“I encourage producers to take a look at the interim final rule, see how it may impact their hemp operation, and then provide that input to USDA,” Bennett said.
we dont want farmers to grow illegal pot to sell to people who would rather get high instead of having a job and making $ to support their families. We dont want the govt to help farmers with $ to grow this drug. We dont want our tax dollars, state or federal, to go to growing,or selling marajuana.
Stop this BS before we have a country of addicts with nobody able to drive a commercial vehicle, get a saftey sensitive job, become a school teacher, or any other job of responsibility.
Stop this now.
Hemp is a non hallucinogenic and contains no THC. might want to get smarter on the subject.
Mr. Roberts………..the reply from Dees Nutz is correct. The law referenced in the article pertains to the species of Cannabis plant that does not contain THC which is the compound that causes one to get “high”. No one gets high off of commercial hemp.
Commercial hemp is used to produce rope, clothing, bio-fuel, and many other beneficial products. It also produces a beneficial cannabis compound for easing muscle and joint tissues, sleep enhancement, blood flow, cardiovascular and other health benefits. It is a fantastic money crop that will benefit many struggling farmers Nationwide.
Thank you! It is about time! There are so many GOOD uses for this product, not the least of which is medicinal, allowing an alternative to high-price “Big Pharma”-supporting drugs which can be addictive! As my mother once told a dr. when she was in her 70’s and he hesitated to prescribe her pain medication due to the possibility that she could become addicted, “At my age, I don’t worry about it, but it would be nice to be able to be addicted to being out of pain.” Hemp is a God-given plant, whereas prescription medicine is largely synthesized and has many undesirable side effects; I have never heard of any side effects to smoking/ingesting hemp unless something had been added to it or someone was allergic to it.