Hoeven Statement on Establishment of USDA Hemp Program

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the establishment of the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. Hoeven cosponsored legislation to legalize hemp and supported the measure’s inclusion in the 2018 Farm Bill, which he helped advance as a member of the Agriculture Committee and the conference committee.

“Industrial hemp provides an opportunity for North Dakota farmers to diversify their operations and create a new source of revenue,” Hoeven said. “That’s why we supported the inclusion of hemp provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill, and have worked to provide Secretary Perdue and the administration with resources to advance a program and regulations that will best serve farmers. We welcome today’s proposal and encourage the USDA to continue its efforts with states and tribes to ensure it is implemented in a timely and effective fashion.”

As required by the farm bill, the USDA is proposing a consistent regulatory framework for hemp’s production across the U.S. The proposal provides for USDA approval of state and Indian tribes’ hemp production plans, establishes requirements for maintaining land where hemp is produced, and provides details surrounding the testing of THC levels and disposal of non-compliant plants. Additional information can be found here.

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