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Indiana state chemist: more work to be done before hemp program is in place

A bill that legalizes hemp in Indiana has passed but the Indiana State Chemist and Seed Commissioner says there is more to be done before it is implemented.

Robert Waltz says the bill authorizes a hemp advisory committee to establish rules and regulations for a hemp program in Indiana.

The committee will report to the office of the Indiana state chemist and seed commissioner for two years.

“One of the more critical things they’ll be doing is looking at the proposal that goes forward out of the state of Indiana to USDA for final approval of a program in Indiana for 2020,” he says.

The 2018 Farm Bill redefined hemp as an agricultural commodity.

Waltz says there will be a public meeting on the committee’s proposal and then once revisions are made the document will be sent to the USDA for final approval.

He says although hemp will become a commercial crop in 2020, Hoosier farmers need a plan in place before they grow it.

“I would encourage people not to just go out and grow hemp with the idea that they’re going to be able to sell it somewhere, because unless you have a specific buyer in mind there isn’t the infrastructure available to really make that happen,” he says. “I think in the future that may be more possible, but not right now.”

For more information visit oisc.purdue.edu or purduehemp.org.

Audio: Robert Waltz, Indiana State Chemist and Seed Commissioner