The state of Minnesota’s revised hemp regulations have been approved by federal authorities, giving growers new remediation options and testing flexibility.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Minnesota’s initial plan last year and the updates in time for the 2021 growing season, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
The revised plan doubles the testing window from 15 days before harvest to 30 days before harvest.
It also allows changes THC testing protocols to allow hemp producers with two years of compliant test results to shift to random sampling. Experienced growers will still be tested if they use varieties new to Minnesota, as will all new hemp growers.
Minnesota farmers with hot hemp will be allowed to use the plants as biomass as long as the shredded material doesn’t exceed o.3% THC.
The changes come after the USDA adjusted its final hemp regulations earlier this year.
Whitney Place, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, called the changes “a major step forward.”
