Missouri Proposed Hemp Rule

If you feel the Missouri Hemp rules and regulations are unjust, shortsighted and unfair please submit your comments before the proposed rules become law. https://agriculture.mo.gov/proposed-rules/#proposed-rules

Missguided Missouri Hemp Rules blog post.

The misguided Missouri Hemp laws have reinforced how important it is for people to "contact and share" and become known to all Leaders in Government Agencies (in every division) letting them know how their rules and regs "help or harm" the populace. Scotty MOhemp Energy 

NOTICE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS:

1. Anyone may file a statement in support of or in opposition to this proposed rule with the Missouri Department of Agriculture,
2. ATTN: John Brunnert, PO Box 630, 1616 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO 65102, or online at 
3. Agriculrure.Mo.Gov/proposed-rules/. 
4. To be considered, comments must be received within thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the Missouri Register. No public hearing is scheduled.

Added by Scotty: comments can also be submitted on the Missouri Department of Agriculture Website  https://agriculture.mo.gov/proposed-rules/#proposed-rules

2 CSR 70-17.070 Industrial Hemp Registration Fees, Renewal of Registrations, and Other Fees

PURPOSE: This rule explains registration and other related fees.
(1) Upon the department’s selection of the application, the applicant will be provided an Industrial Hemp Pilot Program Grower and Handler Registration Agreement to be signed and submitted along with the applicable registration fees. Institutions of higher education are exempt from these fees.
(A) Grower registration fee: five hundred dollars ($500) plus—
1. Forty-five dollars ($45) per acre to be planted.
(B) Handler registration fee: five hundred dollars ($500) plus—
1. For processing the grain component of industrial hemp: five hundred dollars ($500);
2. For processing the fiber component of industrial hemp: five hundred dollars ($500);
3. For processing the leaf and/or floral material component of industrial hemp (hemp extract and/or CBD): three thousand dollars ($3,000); or
4. If processing more than one (1) component, the handler shall pay the fee associated with each component.
(C) Agricultural Hemp Seed Production Permit fee: five hundred dollars ($500).
(2) Registered growers must pay an annual renewal fee of forty-five dollars ($45) per acre for the second and third year of registration.
(3) Registered handlers must pay an annual renewal fee equal to the applicable processing fees listed in this section in (1)(B)1. through 4. for the second and third year of registration.
(4) Registrations are effective on the date originally issued by the department and will expire three (3) years after the date of issuance.
(5) Applications for registration renewal must be received no more than one hundred twenty (120) days and no less than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the three- (3-) year registration. Registered growers and handlers shall be required to satisfy all requirements for registration as if never before registered, including completion of an acceptable state and federal criminal background check. Registered growers will be considered first for subsequent three- (3-) year registration renewals.
(6) If unaccounted acres are available for production and cultivation, the department will announce an open application period on the department’s website. During this period, the department will consider new applications and registration modifications for the acreage.
(7) When destruction is required, the department will assess to the registered grower an appropriate destruction certification fee. Such fee will be commensurate with the Missouri Highway Patrol or local law enforcement agencies’ costs for certifying crop destruction.
Such fee shall be paid within thirty (30) days of receiving an invoice.
AUTHORITY: section 195.773, RSMo Supp. 2018. Original rule filed
Nov. 20, 2018.
PUBLIC COST: This proposed rule will annually cost public entities thirty-five thousand nine hundred fifty-nine dollars ($35,959) in the aggregate.
PRIVATE COST: This proposed rule will annually cost private entities one hundred seventy-nine thousand four hundred sixteen dollars ($179,416) in the aggregate.
NOTICE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS: Anyone may file a statement in support of or in opposition to this proposed rule with the Missouri
Department of Agriculture, ATTN: John Brunnert, PO Box 630, 1616 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO 65102, or online at Agriculture.Mo.Gov/proposed-rules/. To be considered, comments must be received within thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the
Missouri Register. Nopublic hearing is scheduled.
____
Is the Missouri Government really trying to help Missouri Farmers who want to grow Hemp or just catering to big business interests?
The Fees alone I feel are enough to discourage anyone from partaking in this opportunity that will help all Missourians.
Using the example above for MOhemps plan of offering a service to process farmers Missouri grown hemp into sources of income from the following help products:

1. Clean String Fibers
2. Hemp Hurds
3. Hemp Lignin
4. Seed Separation and cleaning 
5. Biodiesel Production
6. Livestock Feed 

Will have a Fee Charge of: $1,500 before ever touching a Hemp plant. Add this costs to the required other Missouri Business Fees, Labor Costs, Required Record Keeping, and Insurance, etc.  Are more than the income potential that a 40 acre pilot study plot of land will net. 

• Handler registration fee: five hundred dollars ($500) plus—
• 1. For processing the grain component of industrial hemp: five hundred dollars ($500);
• 2. For processing the fiber component of industrial hemp: five hundred dollars ($500);