Nebraska Addresses Hemp Application Delays

Hemp program applications have been coming into the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) since they became available on Feb. 3. Delays in the application process have been caused by the FBI Identity History Summary Checks and inaccurate mapping of sites and location IDs, NDA reports.

The agency issued the following statement:

A large number of applicants did not submit the correct information in their FBI Identity History Summary Check application. To prevent further delays in licensing, NDA will now accept a digital copy of the FBI Identity History Summary Check.

The website and application guidance have been updated to reflect this change in policy. The application guidance documents also give detailed instructions on creating maps and obtaining GPS coordinates for each location ID. It is imperative to list and map each location ID where hemp will be planted, stored, dried, processed, or handled.

Hemp being handled in a location not listed in the application is subject to destruction without compensation. Make sure to follow all instructions closely in the application guidance and apply for your license well ahead of when you intend to plant.

Hemp has now been added as a specialty crop to FieldWatch. This is a voluntary tool to increase communication between commercial specialty crop growers and nearby pesticide applicators to reduce incidents of pesticide drift.

Growers register their contact information and crop locations on the online map, and farmers and other pesticide applicators check the map to see where specialty crops are located. For more information, please visit the FieldWatch website.