Nebraska Hemp Association officials are anxious for the State Department of Agriculture to submit their plan covering industrial hemp production to USDA for approval. Hemp Association President Bill Achord says that should happen later this month.

This week the federal government released banking guidance for the finance industry for hemp producers. The language makes it clear that banks are not required to file Suspicious Activity Reports on hemp producers operating under an approved federal, state or tribal license or plan. Achord says that’s positive.

Achord says they hope processors will also move ahead with their plans once the rules are submitted and approved by USDA and adds the recent banking guidance will also be helpful for them.

Achord says their goal is to get the hemp rules back so growers can plant the crop in Nebraska the spring of 2020.