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Hemp industry urges tweaks to Idaho program; ISDA outlines strict rules and costs
Summary
The Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee received an industry and agency briefing on Idaho’s hemp program, where ISDA described strict licensing, testing and fee requirements and farmers and processors urged several operational and policy changes to support fiber and grain production.
The Idaho Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee heard a multi‑part informational presentation on the state's industrial hemp program including the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and private producers and processors who said the sector is expanding but faces regulatory and operational obstacles.
ISDA Director Michelle Tewalt told the committee that House Bill 126 (2021) created Idaho's hemp framework and that the state follows the 2018 federal Farm Bill for on‑farm production while retaining stricter state standards in some areas. "Idaho standard is 0.3%," Tewalt said, adding that "once it leaves a licensed handler's facility, it has to be a 0% THC product." She described the program as "incredibly onerous and very heavy" and stressed that fees were set so the program would largely pay for itself, leading to higher costs than other ISDA programs.
Direct program details: Tewalt listed required elements for producers and handlers: annual licensing with background checks, lot fees, reporting to USDA Farm…
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