USDA has approved 7 additional hemp production plans.

On Jan. 27, the agency announced the approval of plans for the states of Delaware, Nebraska and Texas and for the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Fort Belknap Indian Community, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, and the Yurok Tribe.

USDA continues to receive and review hemp production plans from states and Indian tribes on an ongoing basis.

Plans previously approved include:

To check the status of a plan or to review approved plans, visit: Status of State and Tribal Hemp Production Plans.

To produce hemp, growers must be licensed or authorized under a state, tribe, or USDA production program. The program a grower is licensed under depends on the location of the hemp growing facility. If a state or tribe has an approved plan or is in the process of developing a plan, growers must apply and be licensed or authorized under its hemp program. If a state or tribe does not have a plan and does not intend to have a plan, growers can apply for a license from USDA as long as production of hemp is allowed in the state or tribe.

For additional information about the program and the provisions of the interim final rule, visit the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program web page.

What else is happening with hemp?

Some of the nation's largest industrial hemp producing states have opted out of seeking federal approval, which is required for moving hemp across state lines. – The Philadelphia Inquirer

Texas farmers are one step closer to legally growing hemp after the USDA approved the state's production guidelines. Hemp production was banned in 1937, but officially legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill. – Caller Times

Delaware is the second state on the East Coast to receive approval to administer a domestic hemp program. “Not only does this help offer another crop for our farmers to produce, but it provides value-added products that will continue to grow small business in our state," said Gov. John Carney in the Delaware State News.

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture are concerned about federal requirements regarding hemp, including guidelines for how noncompliant crops should be destroyed. – Cannabis Wire

Some farmers and local officials think USDA's national hemp framework is too rigid and failed to address the industry's biggest concerns. – Politico

North Dakota's hemp plan was rejected. What's next? – Williston Herald

Improved testing rules, an expanded testing timeline and clarity around hemp transportation would help farmers grown and market hemp, the American Farm Bureau said in comments submitted to USDA.