Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator, Bruce Summers, says public input is important as USDA continues to develop the nation's hemp industry.

 

loading...

“Interim final rule included a public comment period so we can hear from producers state departments of agriculture and all sectors of the industry,” Summers recently said.  “The public comment period, which was extended to accommodate the high response rate received from our stakeholders, closed on January 29th.”

And he noted more than 2,600 comments have been received.

 

“In Addition to the comments already received at USDA we welcome feedback on the program throughout the 2020 season,” Summers continued.  “And in fact, we intend to re-open the formal comment period after the first of the growing season to ensure we capture feedback from the actual experiences of producers, states, tribes, and others.”

 

An interim final rule on hemp was introduced on October 21st 2019.

 

“We will use the comments received and the lessons learned during the growing season to help us develop the final regulations which we intend to complete within two years of when this interim final rule is first published.”

 

 

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com

More From PNW Ag Network