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Departments of Agriculture and Livestock outline hemp program, new diagnostic lab and meat-inspection needs
Summary
Agency leaders briefed the Senate Agriculture Committee on hemp regulation and testing limits, a planned 55,000-square-foot veterinary diagnostic lab at MSU, federal funding cuts to meat inspection, and House Bill 119 (a proposed state cattle checkoff referendum).
Department leaders used the committee’s organizational meeting to brief members on regulatory activities and infrastructure priorities that could affect Montana producers this session.
Ian Foley, Ag Sciences Division Administrator at the Department of Agriculture, described the state’s long involvement with hemp regulation and clarified that Montana focuses on grain and fiber production. ‘‘99% of the crop grown in Montana is grain and fiber,’’ Foley said, adding that the department uses the MSU analytical lab (a DEA-licensed facility) to test samples for THC compliance and that the lab can process only regulatory/enforcement samples under its DEA permit.
Foley expl…
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