USDA HEMP

USDA HEMP

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett

The USDA is looking for feedback from hemp growers about their 2020 growing season.

Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Bruce Summers says the agency has reopened the comment period on hemp production.

“Specifically to hear feedback on disposal and remediation on non-compliant plants and interstate commerce and the provision in the Interim Final Rule for the 15-day harvest window and when testing needed to occur. We’re looking for comments on hemp breeding and research, sampling methodology would be another area that we’re looking for comments on specifically where testing should be done on the flower or whole plant, even frequency of the sampling methodology. “

Colorado is among a half dozen states that had its hemp plan rejected by the USDA. Revisions are underway but there are points of contention. The state had its regulatory plan before the national legalization. The federal plan is more restrictive with less flexibility regarding hot hemp; plants that test above the limit of .3 % THC concentration, and testing protocols.

Founder of GrowHempColorado.com Veronica Carpio, tells Colorado Ag Today some suggestions by growers were left out of the first Hemp Plan proposal.

Carpio:” They left out stuff like water issues, they left out exemptions for destruction of seed and stock that we all wanted. There was a (...) left out of research and development”

Carpio says she and other growers are trying to work with the CDA on suggestions that can go into the revised Colorado Hemp Plan.”

General comments about the 2020 growing year to the USDA are due by October 8th and can be submitted via www.regulations.gov. The USDA hopes to publish a Final Rule on Hemp Production before next Spring.

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