Alabama law for hemp farmers is pretty straightforward. Once you decide you want to farm hemp, the first thing you need is a license. Managed by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI,) the licensing process repeats each year. For those of you who grew hemp in 2019, you’ll need a 2020 license to continue, and so forth. 

The 2020 license period for hemp farmers is between October 5 and November 20, 2020. Here’s what you need to know.

Application submission

You can submit your application to grow, process or handle hemp online, by email or through the mail. The annual application period is always in the Fall, and you must reapply each year. Additionally, around the end of April, you’ll need to submit a Grow Plan. This plan signifies your intent to to grow hemp in Alabama during the year.

• To submit applications online, visit: http://agi.alabama.gov/divisions/plant-protection/industrial-hemp/program-applications
• To complete the process via email, contact plant.protection@agi.alabama.gov 
• If you’d like to send your application in through the mail, the address is:

Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries
Hemp Program
1445 Federal Drive
Montgomery, AL 36107

Extra documentation

In addition to sending in all the forms related to the license application, you’ll also need to send in your formation documents. There are all the materials related to the start of your business. It shows you’ve taken the right steps to build a proper hemp farming company before obtaining the license.

While all this documentation gets done in advance, do not buy any hemp material early. Any seeds or seedlings ordered, purchased or received before you get your license puts you out of compliance with the state. It can impact your ability to grow. If this does happen, contact your Hemp Program manager immediately for instructions on how to fix the situation.

Fees

A single application, and non-refundable fee of $200, covers every hemp site you’ve put under your license. If approved, you’ll have to pay $1000 in additional fees per growing area. Because you have to reapply every year, it’s best to factor in these costs as part of your annual budget. 

You do have the ability to pay online.

Orientation

Once your application gets approved, and you have your license, the final requirement is orientation. In February of the following year, you’ll attend a mandatory orientation meeting. Information on the where and when of these meetings goes out after the issuing of all licenses. It’s very important you attend.

Begin growing

After you’ve gotten your license and completed your orientation, the next step is to begin growing hemp. This is a lucrative crop, but there is an art to it. For extra support throughout the whole process, contact Arbor Vita8. We begin by offering prime genetics to get your crop started, but don’t stop there. From growing tips to access to our high-quality cultivation and processing equipment, we’re able to help you extract a quality product. Whether you need our assistance from start to finish or a la carte throughout the process, we have the experience and the tools to help. For more information, contact Arbor Vita8 today.