In a major reversal of recent decisions to yield to the USDA to regulate hemp production and processing in NYS, today NYS Ag & Markets officials announced that the state will continue to administer the program through the 2021 growing season. Ag and Markets issued the following statement:
Dear Growers,
Recently enacted federal legislation has amended the 2018 Farm Bill to extend, until September 30, 2021, state administration of industrial hemp research pilot programs, under the authority previously granted in the 2014 Farm Bill. Therefore, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (Department) will continue the NYS Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program for hemp cultivation and hemp growers in New York State.
The Department recognizes that the past few weeks have been unsettling to industrial hemp growers due to the recent, unforeseen change in federal direction. We are working in a challenging and ever-evolving regulatory landscape related to the cultivation of hemp, and we appreciate your continued understanding and cooperation over the next several months as we move forward.
In the coming weeks, the Department will continue its discussions with the USDA regarding the future of New York State’s hemp program. Our goal is to provide certainty to all program participants on the path forward beyond the September 30, 2021 expiration of the NYS Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program.
For current program participants with authorizations expiring prior to September 30, 2021, those authorizations will be administratively renewed until September 30, 2021, with no action required on your part.
The NYS Ag & Markets website will soon be updated to reflect this development, but as of this posting, the website still refers applications to the USDA.