OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
COLOMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Agriculture will accept applications for hemp cultivation licenses for the 2021 growing season, from January 1 to February 28, 2021.
The state’s Hemp Agriculture Program has grown from 20 farmers in 2018 to 265 farmers in 2020 – and each year, the program changes as state and federal laws change. When the federal government approved the South Carolina Hemp State Plan in April 2020, the program entered a new period of regulatory stability, which SCDA expects to continue in 2021. The agency now has six full-time employees dedicated to regulation of hemp.
The requirements for receiving a hemp cultivation license include:
– Proof of residence in South Carolina;
– Criminal background check (a new check is required each year of authorization.);
– FSA farm number (Farm Service Agency);
– $ 100 non-refundable application fee and $ 1,000 permission fee;
– GPS coordinates of all places where hemp will be grown;
– Submission of registration and all necessary materials until the deadline of February 28, 2021; and
– Participate in an SCDA orientation and sign a Hemp Production Agreement before owning any hemp, including clones and seeds.
All farmers must apply through the SCDA online portal at Agriculture.sc.gov/hemp. There are no paper or printing applications. Since it can take several weeks for farmers to obtain FSA farm numbers and background checks, applicants must review the requirements and start the process as soon as possible.
Licenses are only valid for the current year, so 2020 license holders who wish to cultivate in 2021 must apply for a new license. SCDA will not grant a 2020 farmer a 2021 authorization unless he or she has reported his or her hemp cultivation area for 2020 to the FSA until the 2021 application deadline.
For information on the South Carolina Hemp Farming Program, visit Agriculture.sc.gov/hemp or send an email to [email protected].
SCDA is tasked with regulating hemp cultivation. At this time, our agency cannot provide training, information or subsidies for the cultivation or processing of hemp. Those with doubts about hemp growing practices should contact their Clemson Cooperative Extension agent.