Breeding can be done by licensed growers as long as they are not contractually prohibited from such activities by a Seed/Material Usage Agreement. The license holder is required to have a quality control process in place and records to demonstrate that their seed breeding or seed production process meets the definition for hemp at each step. The MDA will test the initial and the final plant populations to confirm that THC levels meet the definition for hemp. The MDA will also audit the testing records annually during the breeding process to ensure the quality control process is in place.
Breeding can be done by licensed growers as long as they are not contractually prohibited from such activities by a Seed/Material Usage Agreement. The license holder is required to have a quality control process in place and records to demonstrate that their seed breeding or seed production process meets the definition for hemp at each step. The MDA will test the initial and the final plant populations to confirm that THC levels meet the definition for hemp. The MDA will also audit the testing records annually during the breeding process to ensure the quality control process is in place.
Once they are approved and licensed by the MDA, growers can obtain hemp seed from in-state, domestic, or international sources. Growers must ensure they are purchasing hemp which has been legally grown, tested by a regulatory authority, and proven to be legal hemp. Every lot of hemp grown in the MDA Hemp Program must have the seed label, invoice or bill of lading, and certificate of analysis (COA) for the parent plants showing that the THC levels were at or below 0.3%. Please contact the MDA Hemp Program for more information on ordering hemp seed.
Seed harvested by a licensed hemp grower can be saved or sold for propagation in the future as long as they are not prohibited from such activities by a Seed/Material Usage Agreement signed between the grower and the seed distributor. If a grower intends to plant hemp in subsequent years, they must renew their license. Certified hemp seed can only be produced by a hemp grower registered with the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association’s seed certification program. Growers should be aware that the genetics of the plants will change from one generation to the next when cross-pollination occurs. Studies conducted by the University of Minnesota have shown that the THC levels can rise substantially in the offspring.
Any volunteer hemp plants growing in subsequent years must be destroyed, unless the licensee renews their license and registers that grow location. The licensee may not cultivate volunteer plants if they are prohibited from such activities by a Seed/Material Usage Agreement.
The initial labeler—the first person or company to label and sell seed in Minnesota—must have a seed permit. Permit categories and fees are determined by the type, intended use, and amount sold annually. Generally, those that only sell seed labeled by another person or firm do not need a permit. For more information about labeling hemp seed in Minnesota, click here. Please visit the MDA Seed Program for more information.
Breeding can be done by licensed growers as long as they are not contractually prohibited from such activities by a Seed/Material Usage Agreement. The license holder is required to have a quality control process in place and records to demonstrate that their seed breeding or seed production process meets the definition for hemp at each step. The MDA will test the initial and the final plant populations to confirm that THC levels meet the definition for hemp. The MDA will also audit the testing records annually during the breeding process to ensure the quality control process is in place.
The MDA Hemp Program only covers hemp cultivation, processing, and marketing within the state of Minnesota. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Domestic Hemp Production Program has federal oversight. Hemp is federally legal and interstate commerce is permitted. Please visit USDA's website for additional information.
The shipper should always carry a copy of the grower's license, a copy of the receiver's license, and the Fit for Commerce certificate or certificate of analysis from an accredited lab showing that the material was tested and is at or below the 0.3% Total THC threshold.
The MDA Hemp Program only covers hemp cultivation, processing, and marketing within the state of Minnesota. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Domestic Hemp Production Program has federal oversight. Hemp is federally legal and interstate commerce is permitted. Please visit USDA's website for additional information.
The shipper should always carry a copy of the grower's license, a copy of the receiver's license, and the Fit for Commerce certificate or certificate of analysis from an accredited lab showing that the material was tested and is at or below the 0.3% Total THC threshold.
Please contact the buyer and/or the receiving states' hemp regulatory program to find out specific rules or requirements that they might have. The shipper should always carry a copy of the grower's license, a copy of the receiver's license, and the Fit for Commerce certificate or certificate of analysis from an accredited lab showing that the material was tested and is below the 0.3% Total THC threshold.
Please contact the buyer and/or the receiving states' hemp regulatory program to find out specific rules or requirements that they might have. The shipper should always carry a copy of the grower's license, a copy of the receiver's license, and the Fit for Commerce certificate or certificate of analysis from an accredited lab showing that the material was tested and is below the 0.3% Total THC threshold.
The Hemp Program does not provide grants nor do we facilitate granting opportunities. However, the MDA’s Ag Marketing Division does facilitate a variety of grants, which could be applied for and used by a license holder. Please visit the MDA’s Grant Opportunities page to learn more about this opportunity.
The Agriculture Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is a nonprofit created by the Minnesota state legislature to help develop new markets for Minnesota-grown agricultural products. They have resources and funding opportunities that are accessible to those who qualify for AURI assistance. Please visit AURI’s webpage to learn more.
The Hemp Program does not provide grants nor do we facilitate granting opportunities. However, the MDA’s Ag Marketing Division does facilitate a variety of grants, which could be applied for and used by a license holder. Please visit the MDA’s Grant Opportunities page to learn more about this opportunity.
The Agriculture Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is a nonprofit created by the Minnesota state legislature to help develop new markets for Minnesota-grown agricultural products. They have resources and funding opportunities that are accessible to those who qualify for AURI assistance. Please visit AURI’s webpage to learn more.
Prices for hemp grain are widely fluctuating in the U.S. and in Minnesota specifically due to the infancy and constant development of the industry. According to the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Department, the average hemp grain price in 2015 in Alberta was $0.74 per pound. Typical returns for hemp grain in the U.S. have been between $0.40-0.70 per pound for conventional, and $0.75-1.00 per pound for organic. Due to the volatile nature of the current U.S. hemp industry, growers are advised to secure a contract before they plant.
For high-CBD hemp, the market is changing very rapidly for a variety of factors. There is an exploding demand for CBD products and also an exponential growth in the number of hemp growers and processors each year, not just in Minnesota, but nationwide. Prices for high-CBD hemp flower in 2019 ranged between $3.00-$4.00 per pound of flower, per percent of CBD. For 10% CBD flower, this would equate to approximately $10,000- $60,000 per acre. Please refer to the Hemp Benchmarks website for up-to-date information regarding spot pricing for hemp.
