The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the state of Minnesota’s revived hemp production plan. State Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen says they’ve already approved licenses for 450 growers to plant the crop. He says one of the revisions provides a better testing window for industrial hemp.

He says other important revisions include random sampling based on risk factors and better remediation.

Petersen says they have a great staff on hand at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to assist hemp growers and to check out their website.

Prior to 2021, Minnesota had been operating under an industrial hemp pilot program.