USDA Approves Indiana Hemp Plan

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Thursday approved Indiana’s hemp plan – its third approved plan over the last week. The plan will take the state’s Office of Indiana State Chemist’s pilot program and transition it to a full-scale commercial system.

Under the pilot program, hemp cultivators needed a research proposal and had to be linked with a university to apply for a license. Under the USDA-approved plan, farmers will be able to apply for independent licenses starting next month for the 2021 season.

Don Robison, seed administrator for the Office of the Indiana State Chemist, said in a statement that the “plan approval is a huge accomplishment for both farmers and our team.”