The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the comment period for the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program interim final rule until Jan. 29, 2020, to allow stakeholders additional time to provide feedback.

USDA published the interim final rule on Oct. 31, 2019, as authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). The rule outlines provisions for USDA to approve plans submitted by states and Indian tribes for the domestic production of hemp. It also establishes a federal plan for producers in states or territories of Indian tribes that do not have their own USDA-approved plan.

Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments on the interim final rule and proposed information collection by visiting www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be submitted by mail to Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; or by fax at (202) 720-8938. Comments received by Jan. 29, 2020, will be considered before a final rule is issued.

More information about the provisions of the interim final rule is available on the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program web page on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website.

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