The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has officially notified all applicants to the hemp pilot program regarding project approval for 2017. This year the KDA received a total of 252 applications from growers and new processor/handlers combined.
Program participants can expect an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) draft and orientation details by mid-January. Every participant is required to attend an orientation meeting to receive training, pay participation fees and sign their MOU and Participant Agreement form. Fees are based on the number of growing addresses or level of processing and these fees will be collected on-site during the orientation. Assigned orientation dates will be assigned along with the MOU drafts. Program orientations will be held from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM in early February; so keep those dates open. Each participant who is approved to grow industrial hemp will be required to confirm the exact field location(s) and GPS coordinates on the draft MOU. You should be reviewing your growing locations at this time to finalize your plans. Also note that new participants may not have possession until after orientation and the execution of the MOU by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Congratulations on all of you accepted into the 2017 Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program! We are excited to announce that all of our partners were approved to participate in the program for a second year, and that we will be continuing our educational initiatives across the state next season!
Click here for more information about the Kentucky Hemp Pilot Program.