Industrial Hemp Program

Industrial Hemp Program

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture Industrial Hemp Program is the result of the passage of two separate laws: Kentucky's Senate Bill 50, passed by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2013, and the 2014 Federal Farm Bill signed into law February 7, 2014. Senate Bill 50 exempted industrial hemp from the state controlled substances act but also mandated that Kentucky follow all federal rules and regulations with respect to industrial hemp. The Federal Farm Bill allows state departments of agriculture, in states where industrial hemp is legal, to administer industrial hemp pilot programs in conjunction with universities for the purposes of research and development.

Because the law remains unclear, the KDA will work with the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to pursue a blanket waiver that will allow Kentucky producers to grow industrial hemp for commercial purposes. Meanwhile, the KDA is moving forward with pilot programs and will initially administer five such programs in different areas of the state, each with a unique research focus and university affiliation. Producers interested in growing industrial hemp must execute an application with the KDA and affiliate with a pilot program.

ref:  http://www.kyagr.com/Marketing/hemp-pilot.html