COLUMBIA – The new year means open applications for hemp applications in South Carolina.
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) announced hemp farming permit applications for the 2022 growing season will be available Jan. 1.
The South Carolina General Assembly and SCDA’s work over the past four years helped create the Hemp Farming Program. It led to permit fees for 2022 being half what they were in 2021.
The application fee is $100. New permit fees are effective Jan. 1, 2022 and are posted on the SCDA Hemp Farming Program webpage at agriculture.sc.gov/hemp.
The department’s Residue Laboratory nears completion and will offer official THC analysis starting in summer 2022. Hemp farming permit holders must have their hemp tested before harvest to ensure it does not exceed THC levels. The certified state-run lab will help farmers cut costs and improve operations. The SCDA Seed Laboratory is also now equipped for hemp seed germination and purity analysis.
Anyone who wishes to farm hemp in South Carolina in 2022 must apply online between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28, 2022. All applicants must apply online at agriculture.sc.gov/hemp. Since permits expire every year, current permit holders must reapply.
To qualify for a hemp permit, applicants must complete a background check through IdentoGO and provide a Farm Service Agency (FSA) number. Only South Carolina residents are eligible to apply.
For further information, visit agriculture.sc.gov/hemp or email hempstaff@scda.sc.gov.