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Wisconsin hemp license sales high, deadline approaching

The deadline is rapidly approaching for Wisconsin farmers who want to grow industrial hemp.

State Senator Patrick Testin authored last year’s new law allowing industrial hemp production in Wisconsin for the first time since the 1930’s.  He tells Brownfield the number of farmers wanting to grow hemp surprised him.  “Initially, we thought if we could get about a dozen or so, that’d be a great start, but the fact that we were at 50 as of April 12^th is really a great sign that we are at the forefront and at the start of, hopefully, making Wisconsin a national leader once again in this great commodity.”

Donna Gilson with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says based on farmer interest, she’s not at all surprised by the number of hemp licenses issued through Friday.  “So far, we have received 113 license applications.  We have issued 52 licenses.  We have 50 that are still being processed, and then we have another 11 that everything is finished, we’re just waiting for the payment on them.”

Growers pay a one-time grower license fee of $150 for the first 30 acres, plus five dollars an acre up to 199 acres.  The license fee is capped at $1,000 for 200 acres or more.  There is also an annual grower registration fee of $350.  The deadline to get licensed and registered for the 2018 growing season is May 1^st.