Published: October 18, 2020


HEMP GROWERS IN TENNESSEE WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO ADJUST TO FEDERAL DOMESTIC HEMP PROGRAM GUIDELINES. ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE, THE PROGRAM WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT THIS YEAR, BUT THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS EXTENDED THE CURRENT INDUSTRIAL HEMP PILOT PROGRAM THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2021. TENNESSEE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE ITS HEMP LICENSING AND INSPECTION PROGRAMS UNDER THE 2014 FARM BILL. THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S 2021 HEMP PLAN WAS APPROVED BY THE U-S-D-A EARLIER THIS YEAR, POSITIONING THE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT NEW FEDERAL STANDARDS. THE DELAY ALLOWS T-D-A TO FINE-TUNE LABORATORY OPERATIONS, INSPECTION PROCEDURES, AND SAMPLING PROCESSES BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO THE FEDERAL PROGRAM NEXT YEAR. WHEN THE NEW FEDERAL STANDARDS GO INTO EFFECT NEXT YEAR, EVERY HEMP VARIETY IN EVERY GROWING AREA MUST BE TESTED FOR T-H-C WITHIN 15 DAYS OF HARVEST RATHER THAN 30 DAYS. SAMPLES COLLECTED WILL BE TESTED FOR TOTAL THC RATHER THAN DELTA-9 THC. GROWERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE LOT NUMBERS FROM THE USDA FARM SERVICES AGENCY UNDER THE NEW PROGRAM.