South Dakota farmers interested in growing industrial hemp can start making plans for the 2021 growing season.
A legislative group is approving the state’s industrial hemp rules. It’s the last step in the way of farmers putting seeds in the ground.
Derrick Dohmann is a hemp seed sales manager with Horizon Hemp Seeds based in Willow Lake. He’s also Vice President of the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Association.
Dohmann says hemp will allow farmers to diversify their operation while making a profit on the crop.
“Farmers can also utilize existing equipment and process—from planting and harvesting their crop—that they already use today,” Dohmann says. “I've also received a large number of emails and phone calls from a lot of different folks from throughout the state that are very excited to grow this crop.”
Governor Kristi Noem signed the industrial hemp program package in the spring. The state wrote and submitted their proposed rules to the US Department of Ag, which were approved in October.
The state Department of Ag oversees the hemp program. The Department of Public Safety will conduct field inspections.
A court challenge to a recent voter approved cannabis reform package will not affect the state’s industrial hemp program.
-Contact SDPB reporter Lee Strubinger by email.