The Industrial Hemp legislation has now passed the South Dakota Senate., after earlier being approved in the House. South Dakota Farmers Union Lobbyist Mitch Richter says the Senate bill was amended so it now has to return to the House for consideration.

He says once it gets final approval it will likely be 2020 before hemp will get planted.

Richter says it’s taken the whole session to get the measure through both houses and time is getting short to get it finalized.

Earlier Governor Kristi Noem had indicated opposition to the hemp legislation saying South Dakota isn’t ready for it.