NDA Hemp Program Summary
Program History
The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) established an Industrial Hemp research and development program following passage of the 2014 Farm Bill. In 2015, the Nevada Legislature passed State Senate Bill 305 to initiate state authority under Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) for the registration, compliance and enforcement for growing hemp and producing seed. Registered growers were approved to begin production in 2016 through codified NRS 557. Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 557 was established and approved in 2016, with hemp production licenses issued in 2017. In response to program requirements detailed in the 2018 farm bill, 2019 Senate Bill (SB) 347 was established to revise NRS 557. In light of the 2018 Farm Bill, the number of NDA hemp certificate holders and applied hemp production acreage increased from 115 certified hemp growers with an applied 1,880.06 acres in 2018 to 216 certified hemp growers with an applied 14,112.66 acres in 2019.
Nevada has experienced significant statewide interest and the program has continued to increase in participation with data provided below (Nevada Hemp Production Data Table). The NDA continues to support Nevada’s hemp industry by submitting a State Hemp Plan to the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to the provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill and corresponding Interim Final Rule. Portions of the State of Nevada Hemp Plan are dependent on the approval and enactment of the USDA Interim Final Rule.
| State of Nevada Hemp Production Data |
Acres |
Sq Ft |
| 2016
Applied Area = |
319.28 |
400.00 |
| 2016
Planted = |
229.78 |
400.00 |
| 2016
Producers = |
11 |
|
| 2017
Applied Area = |
490.20 |
17,170.00 |
| 2017
Planted = |
434.50 |
17,170.00 |
| 2017
Growers = |
26 |
|
| 2018
Applied Area = |
1,880.06 |
235,688.00 |
| 2018
Planted* = |
1,128.00 |
141,413.00 |
| 2018
Growers = |
115 |
|
| 2019
Applied Area = |
14,693.86 |
1,623,022.00 |
| 2019
Certified Area = |
14,225.66 |
1,612,342.00 |
| 2019
Planted = |
4,917.54 |
266,668.00 |
| 2019 Growers = |
216 |
|
Nevada Hemp
Production Data Table
*Data reported is
based on harvest data submitted and field inspection observations
Application and Certification
NRS 557 grants the NDA authority to require hemp grower, seed producer, and handler applications to be submitted to the department for approval. Applications are recorded as digital files and will be retained for no less than three years per CFR Sec.297B(a)(2)(A)(i). Per NRS 557.200(4) “A person who wishes to register with the Department as a grower, handler or producer must submit to the Department the fee established pursuant to subsection 8 and an application, on a form prescribed by the Department, which includes:
(a) The name and address of the applicant;
(b) The name and address of the applicant’s business in which hemp or agricultural hemp seed will be grown, handled or produced, if different than that of the applicant;
(c) Information concerning the land and crop management practices of the applicant; and
(d) Such other information as the Department may require by regulation.”
Application Processing Time
Application processing can take three to four weeks. New applications are posted in November for the following year.
Certification Period
All NDA hemp certificates expire December 31 each year regardless of the date it was issued. Hemp growers who will have a cross-over crop into the following year must submit an application for renewal prior to the expiration of their active certificate.
NDA Responsibilities
- Issue licensure to qualifying program applicants
- Conduct compliance testing on all hemp fields to ensure crops contain total potential THC content within federal guidelines
- Issue documents (Reports of Analysis) ensuring legitimacy of product and compliance of participants
- Act as a liaison to the industry and support the continued growth of Nevada’s hemp industry
Maximum/Minimum Production Size
The NDA has not implemented any area restrictions related to hemp. The applicant can apply to produce as much or as little hemp as they desire so long as their property is appropriately zoned for agricultural production.