States relinquish oversight, removing burdens to boost production of sustainable crop –
Beginning January 1st, 2025, hemp producer licensing in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa will be administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Joining more than a dozen other states and tribes in this transition, the move is an important step in the crop's march toward acceptance as a row crop commodity grown on American farms.
To obtain a license to produce hemp under USDA’s Domestic Hemp Production Program, applicants must create an account using the Hemp eManagement Platform (HeMP) and use HeMP to submit a USDA Hemp Application. Individuals that have been convicted of a felony related to a controlled substance in the last 10 years are not eligible to receive a license from USDA per 2018 Farm Bill requirements.
This is major progress for Kansas hemp producers, processors and all the ancillary businesses working toward hemp’s mainstream integration in our food and manufacturing supply chain. As industry advocates involved in hemp production since the start of 2019, we’re getting pretty good at growing hemp grain and fiber crops in Kansas. We’ve learned so much in the past six years and hemp is poised to really scale in Kansas. I’m certain the lower fees in USDA’s hemp program are going to encourage more growers to give it a try and find success.
Under USDA’s Domestic Hemp Production Program, producers are required to submit crop acreage reports with their local Farm Service Agency and are responsible for contracting with certified hemp sampling agents and testing laboratories for official compliance sampling and testing. Additionally, producers are responsible for all applicable reporting requirements in USDA’s Final Rule on Establishment of a Domestic Hemp Production Program.
Licensed and planted hemp acres increased over 130% from 2023 to 2024 with a strong trajectory of increasing harvested acreage year-over-year since 2021. Along with Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri are among the most recent states to transition a state run hemp program to the USDA. For more information about eligibility and licensing, please visit the USDA’s Domestic Hemp Production Program website.
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