Idaho Preparing Hemp Plan for USDA Review

Idaho officials are preparing to submit a plan to regulate hemp to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by September 1, the Capital Press reports. The action comes after the Idaho Legislature passed an industrial hemp bill this session which must be submitted to Gov. Brad Little (R) and the Idaho State Patrol before being sent to the USDA.

If approved by the USDA and the legislature adopts new hemp program administrative rules in 2022, Idaho’s first hemp crop could go into the ground in Spring 2022, the report says.

Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Deputy Director Chanel Tewalt is optimistic, saying the agency expects “a fairly quick turnaround time on the review by USDA.”

The deputy director said there will be a $100 application fee and $500 annual renewal fee for hemp farmers, with an additional $250 per lot fee for testing. Handler-processor licensees will have a $1,000 application fee and a $500 annual inspection charge. Background checks will be required for all license applicants.

“Inspection is required in the federal rule and will be in the state rule. There is a handling portion of the (draft) rule because the new Idaho law references handling. We need to ensure the product can get from the farm to a drying facility or grain facility. So we have accounted for that in the process.”— Tewalt via Capital Press

The inspections will verify paperwork and test cannabis for THC thresholds. Hemp that tests over the 0.3% THC level will have to be destroyed or remediated. ISDA held meetings in June to negotiate the new rules with stakeholders. About 40 people attended each meeting, with more handlers and processors in attendance than growers, according to the report.