Industrial Hemp Growing License Applications Available NOW from the Maine Dept of Agriculture.

Industrial Hemp Rules Adopted, License Applications Now Available

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry adopted rules that establish the requirements for becoming licensed to grow industrial hemp (Chapter 274: Rules for Growing Industrial Hemp (PDF)). The rules became effective on April 4, 2016 and outline the application and licensing process, the fees involved and the procedures for monitoring the growth of industrial hemp.

Please Note: The final rule includes an extension of the application deadline to July 1 for 2016 only.  The Department is currently accepting license applications (PDF).

Also Note:  The Department is in the process of moving and our offices will be closed April 15 and re-open at our new location in the Marquardt Building in Augusta on April 19.  Our mailing address will remain the same: 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333

Should you have questions, you may contact Gary Fish at 207-287-7545 or email gary.fish@maine.gov .

Industrial hemp license applications and the information below are available on the [www.maine.gov/dacf/php/hemp]Industrial Hemp Website

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Industrial Hemp Licensing Facts

What is the process for becoming licensed to grow industrial hemp in Maine?

1. Apply for a license
2. Departmental review and approval of application
3. Sign licensing agreement
4. Testing of crop prior to harvest

How do I apply for a license to grow industrial hemp?
Complete the license application and submit the $100.00 application fee.
Cover letter and application to grow industrial hemp (PDF)

Explanation of fees
Maine law requires that the Department cover the costs of operating the industrial hemp program by charging an application fee, license fee and a per acre fee.  These fees are as follows:

• $100 application fee – this fee must be submitted with the application.
• $500 license fee – this fee is due after approval of the application and must be submitted with the signed licensing agreement.
• $50/acre fee – this fee is due after approval of the application and must be submitted with the signed licensing agreement.

 Fees collected will cover Departmental costs including, but not limited to:

• Inspector travel costs including time to and from the growing area to take crop samples for THC content analysis;
• Costs of transporting crop samples to a lab for THC content analysis;
• Laboratory fees for testing crop samples;
• Costs of equipment and supplies used in sampling;
• Departmental time reviewing applications, preparing licensing agreements and issuing licenses;
• Other administrative costs. 

Please note that the fees charged will only cover THC testing for one composite sample taken to represent the entire licensed crop.  Licensees that wish to have individual growing areas or varieties tested separately will be responsible for paying any additional laboratory costs.

DEA permitting and obtaining seed
Availability of hemp seed is a major challenge to potential growers of industrial hemp.  While Maine law may allow for the planting of industrial hemp, federal law does not differentiate between industrial hemp and marijuana making industrial hemp subject to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA, 21 U.S.C. §801) and therefore hemp seed can only be legally imported by obtaining a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration and import permit. 

Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill, provided a mechanism for DEA to issue permits to state departments of agriculture and institutions of higher learning, provided the imported industrial hemp seed is for research purposes.  Maine’s industrial hemp law, as written, allows for planting of industrial hemp for any purpose, including both research and commercial purposes.  

At this time, The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry does not intend to apply for a DEA permit. Currently, the Department is not planning any research projects involving industrial hemp, nor do we have the capacity to do this research.  We are not aware of any institutions of higher learning in the state intending to conduct such research, and if they were planning hemp research they could apply for their own DEA permit.  Unfortunately, Section 7606 of the Farm Bill does not provide for the DEA to issue permits to individual farmers to import hemp seed or to the Department to import hemp seed to be distributed and grown for commercial purposes.

What is a Certified Seed Source?
Maine law requires that industrial hemp be planted using a certified seed source. The industrial hemp rule (Chapter 274) defines a certified seed source as one that is certified according to AOSCA (Association of Seed Certifying Agencies) or other approved standards and comes from plants that were tested during the active growing season and found to produce industrial hemp with 0.3% THC content or less.

The Department understands the very limited availability of industrial hemp seed and the certified seed source requirements are difficult or nearly impossible to meet.  While the Department is required to verify and collect documents which indicate the industrial hemp seed planted comes from a certified seed source, at least for 2016 we can be somewhat flexible on the form this certification may take.  Acceptable forms of certification could include a letter, form or other written verification or combination of these documents that at a minimum includes:

• Third party (someone other than the applicant and the grower of the seed) THC content testing results for the industrial hemp.  The third party should be identified on the testing results;
• THC content test results must be for the variety or varieties included on the application and preferably for the specific lot of seed to be planted;
• Results of THC content testing and the date tests were conducted;
• The name of the seed supplier and origin of the seed.

As industrial hemp seed certified by AOSCA, or other official seed certification programs becomes more available, the Department will review and revise our policies and issue stricter guidelines for acceptable documentation of seed certification.

Sampling and Testing
The licensee will allow the inspection and sampling of the industrial hemp crop at any and all times that the Department deems necessary.  The licensee will be notified prior to inspection and sampling.  During the inspection and sampling the licensee or authorized representative will allow complete and unrestricted access to all industrial hemp plants within the licensed growing area(s).

If the industrial hemp crop has not been inspected and sampled 15 days prior to the anticipated harvest date, the licensee will notify the Department of intent to harvest.

All industrial hemp plants from all varieties and licensed growing areas will be tested for THC content as one composite sample.  Licensees that request to have growing areas or varieties tested separately are responsible for paying laboratory analysis costs for any additional testing.

Crops testing above the allowable THC limit (0.3% THC on a dry weight basis) will be destroyed in a manner approved by the Department.  The licensee is responsible for paying all costs associated with crop destruction.

I have a medical marijuana license.  Can I grow hemp?
Yes, but industrial hemp and medical marijuana plants cannot be co-mingled. The rule states: No industrial hemp plants shall be included in other licensed marijuana production programs.  No growing area may contain Cannabis plants which the licensee knows or has reason to know are of a variety that will produce a plant that when tested will contain more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis.   

What is a growing area?  
A "Growing Area" is defined as the land (the current rules only allow growth of industrial hemp "outdoors") on which a licensee cultivates or plans to cultivate industrial hemp.

A "Non-Contiguous Growing Area" is defined as a growing area on which a licensee grows or plans to grow industrial hemp that is separated from other growing areas by more than 50 miles.

Can I include multiple growing areas on one license?  
Growing areas that are within 50 miles of each other can be included on one license application.

When is a separate license required?
Growing areas that are "non-contiguous" must be included on a separate application. Each separate application requires submission of the full $100.00 application fee.

Maine Honey Production Reportedly Up 25 Percent

Maine Honey Production Reportedly Up 25 Percent

The number of licensed beekeepers has almost tripled in the last decade and registered hive counts have jumped from 5,000 to nearly 10,000

AUGUSTA – USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) today reported that Maine honey production increased 25 percent in 2015. Maine state officials welcomed the news, while adding that the number of licensed beekeepers has almost tripled in the last decade and registered hive counts have jumped from 5,000 to more than 10,000. Despite a harsh winter in 2015, favorable weather conditions resulted in the increase in honey production.  

“The number of licensed beekeepers in Maine has almost tripled in the last decade and registered hive counts have jumped from 5,000 to nearly 10,000,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “That, coupled with the news that honey production was up 25 percent last year, is yet another sign that Maine agriculture continues to make progress toward the goal of becoming the breadbasket of New England.”

“Maine Maple Sunday is this weekend, but with the transition to a new season, it is also important to note that Maine produces another all natural sweetener, honey,” said Commissioner Walt Whitcomb. “Maine has taken a number of steps to promote growth in natural resource products and support small entrepreneurs, including beekeepers. Regarding production of honey, we are also pursuing strategies to protect pollinators, who are also vitally important to fruit and vegetable production. Last year, the DACF unveiled a Pollinator Protection Plan designed to reduce risks to pollinators in the state.”  

According to the records of State Apiarist Tony Jadczak, 975 resident beekeepers registered 9,789 hives in 2015 and 76,058 hives entered the state for crop pollination down from 83,00 in 2014. The increase in hobby beekeepers have contributed to the number of licensed beekeepers and the increase in honey production.

Maine Honey Statistics reported by NASS:

Honey production in 2015 from Maine producers with five or more colonies totaled 470 thousand pounds, up 25 percent from 2014, according to Gary Keough, State Statistician of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New England Field Office. There were 10 thousand colonies producing honey in 2015, up 25 percent from 2014. Yield per colony averaged 47 pounds, unchanged from 2014. Honey prices increased during 2015 to 551 cents per pound, up 10 percent from 499 cents per pound in 2014. Producer honey stocks were 47 thousand pounds on December 15, 2015, up 15 percent from a year earlier.

NASS provides accurate, timely, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. The Honey Production report and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov

Contact: Gary Keough: (603) 224-9639

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: www.maine.gov/dacf

The 75th Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show starts tomorrow!

Admission to the 3-day event is free and open to the public

AUGUSTA—The 75th Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show will be held Tuesday, January 12, through Thursday, January 14, 2016, at the Augusta Civic Center. Hosted by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), the show highlights Maine agriculture and the people involved through demonstrations, presentations and meetings of nearly 40 major agricultural organizations.

There will be over 120 exhibits featuring the newest in agricultural products, equipment and services. One of the state’s largest agricultural exhibitions, the event is expected to draw more than 5,000 people over the course of three days. Admission is free and open to the public.

Governor Paul R. LePage will be on hand Tuesday for the Trades Show opening day, to highlight the economic importance of agriculture to Maine. The Governor will also join Commissioner Walt Whitcomb in publicly recognizing this year’s recipient of the Commissioner’s Distinguished Service Award.

“The 75th Maine Agricultural Trades Show is an opportunity to highlight Maine’s enormous potential to produce and sell even more Maine products and produce jobs,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “Maine has the greatest diversity of food production in New England and the most farms. Maine’s reputation for quality and unique way of life matches the growing interest in locally grown foods that our family farms produce.” 

“The 75th Maine Agricultural Trades Show is as much a showcase for new Maine agricultural opportunities as it is multiple workshops that address the challenges faced by Maine farmers,” said DACF Commissioner Walt Whitcomb. “New features are on display reflecting Maine’s ever growing agricultural activity. Farmer/veteran training and multiple marketing seminars will explore access to local, regional, wholesale, foreign and other farm product connections.”

Topics of Interest to the Press:

• Commissioner’s Luncheon - Governor Paul R. LePage will join Commissioner Whitcomb to present the Commissioner’s Distinguished Service Award. The luncheon will also feature a special guest speaker of national prominence
• Maine Agriculture In The Classroom (MAITC) Teachers of the Year announcement
• $250,000 in Agricultural Development Grants will be Announced
• Beginning Farmer Resource Network workshops for new Maine farmers
• Farmer Veteran Coalition Press Conference  - Maine’s newly chartered Chapter of the national organization will announce a planned expansion of the their efforts to provide farming skills for returning veterans
• Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) presentations and discussions on marketing and growing practices 
• Get Real Get Maine Products Showcase – An indoor farmers market
• Department Overview of Farmers Market Tips and Regulations

Something for Everyone:

This year’s show features several new offerings for attendees in addition to a wide variety of presentations covering diverse topics of interest. New 2016 program highlights also include:

• Market access seminars for Maine food interests entering the world export markets
• Instructions for growing beef production and processing
• A farmers market in the Augusta Civic Center for vendors to show their wares to food buyers
• Dozens of other meetings to advance the output of Maine farms and the return to Maine farmers
• Somerset Auction House Co. Farm Auction to benefit the Maine FFA Association

The show also provides opportunities for growers, conventional and organic, to learn the latest developments in pest management and earn credits required for pesticide license recertification. The Maine Board of Pesticides Control will also be on hand to discuss basic safety training.

This three-day event has something for everyone, the farmer, non-farmer, hobbyist, educator or supplier. Attendees can walk through, observe and learn about how food is harvested and processed. Farmers and producers can see the most up-to-date farm equipment and processing methods and equipment.

Trades Show Floor Hours:

• Tuesday, January 12, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 13, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, January 14, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The complete program and schedule are available at: http://www.getrealmaine.com/.

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: http://www.maine.gov/dacf

Workshops for Maine’s Beginning Farmers to be held January 13-14 at Ag Trades Show

Are you a new farmer? Are you transitioning to a new agricultural endeavor or planning for farm succession? Do you need help navigating the process of setting up your business or finding out who can help your new farming business succeed? The Beginning Farmer Resource Network (BFRN) of Maine can help!

BFRN – a coalition of Maine agriculture agencies and organizations – will be conducting workshops on various topics for new farmers during the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's 2016 Agricultural Trades Show at the Augusta Civic Center on Jan. 12-14, 2016.

Included in the line-up are presentations on: “Financing Your Farm Business”; “Planning for Farm Succession”; “Farmer Veteran Networking”; “Holistic Management; Beyond the Field Edge”; “Farm Safety”; “Cover Crops and Soil Health”; and many more.

The workshops will be held from 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13 in the Hancock and Lincoln/Oxford rooms, and from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 in the Hancock, Lincoln/Oxford, and Sagadohoc rooms. The Farmer Veteran Coalition of Maine will have programs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 in the Somerset Room. In addition, the BFRN networking room, located in the Knox Room, will be open all day Tuesday through Thursday to give farmers an opportunity to have an informal talk with a BFRN representative. The complete schedule, topics, and locations for these workshops can be found in the Agricultural Trades Show program brochure at the BFRN website at http://umaine.edu/beginning-farmer-resource-network/events/ or the Get Real Get Maine website at www.getrealmaine.com.

The Beginning Farmer Resource Network, established in 2012, is a group of federal, state, and local farm service providers who have joined together to assist aspiring and beginning farmers, and farmers interested in farm succession and transfer planning, by providing information and technical assistance on everything from soil health to business planning. BFRN is dedicated to helping the whole farm community – including agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry – succeed, as well as ensuring that agriculture stays prosperous in the future.

The BFRN website at umaine.edu/beginning-farmer-resource-network has resources and assistance available, including topics like “What to Consider First, Financing Your Farm Business,” and “Balancing Farm and Family.” The site also has specific resources for military veterans, health and safety issues, and many other topics. Each area of the site provides resources, publications, and contacts to help you make informed decisions in starting and succeeding in your farm business, and links to all of the agencies and organizations that serve as the leadership council. These resources comprise a “toolbox” of information on important issues and concerns that farmers should think about when starting their business.