Growing Hemp? Start Here

On this page, we maintain an up-to-date list of links that should be useful to growers who currently raise hemp, or growers who are looking to cultivate hemp as research partners with New York State’s hemp program.

Information about Licencing and Regulations in the NYS Hemp Program

NYS Hemp Plan Regulations and Licensing

The full text of the NYS Hemp Plan is available on the USDA website.

  • For a detailed explanation of the the rules and requirements of the program, please review NYS Ag. and Markets’ Program Guidance Document.

Visit Ag. and Markets Hemp Grower Licencing website to apply for a Hemp Growers License under the new NYS Hemp Plan.

Sampling Agents and Testing Labs wishing to participate in the program must become officially certified and identified, respectively. See NYS Dept. of Ag. and Markets’ information on:

NY Senate Bill 8084A: Conditional adult-use cultivator licenses

On February 22, 2022, Governor Hochul signed into law legislation permitting previously authorized hemp growers who operated under the NYS Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program and meet certain requirements the opportunity to apply for a conditional adult-use cultivator license. It amends agriculture and markets and cannabis law.

Hemp production guides and extension resources

Grain/Fiber Seed Sources

Soil and residue testing labs

Hemp Genetic Testing Services

Pesticide Information

Federally: In December 2019, the EPA began to approve pesticides for use on hemp. You can view a list of the approved pesticides at https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/pesticide-products-registered-use-hemp. More pesticides will be added as the EPA reviews applications to include hemp on product labels.

New York State: The New York State DEC has updated their pesticide information database to add a designation for hemp. To access the database and to see if a pesticide is approved for use on hemp, go to:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/nyspad/products?1. Click on Advanced Search to open up the search options. In the Use/Type box select HEMP (INDUSTRIAL) in the Pesticide Use dropdown box and then click search. (For guidance, see screenshot below:)

If people have asked regarding the use of a certain pesticide on hemp, NYSDEC includes its status in the database. For products that are not in the database, If anyone has a question regarding whether a product is approved on hemp and is not currently in the database, contact Jeanine Broughel (Jeanine.Broughel@dec.ny.gov) for a determination. If approved, NYSDEC will update its database.

Cannabinoid Testing Labs

Information on hemp diseases

Hemp Insurance?

For information about hemp crop insurance, please read this document.

Hemp Exchange Board*

From Orange County Cornell Cooperative Extension:

The need to exchange information on buying and selling plant products is evident.  If you are an interested buyer or seller, visit https://www.ads.nyhempexchange.org/. Click Post an Ad, and then create an account or log in. Once logged in, you can create your listing.

The exchange board is mostly for buying and selling plant matter but you’ll see that it could be used for equipment or other hemp-specific supplies.

*The NY Hemp Exchange Board is posted for your information and research purposes. Cornell Cooperative Extension does not endorse or recommend any product, service, individual, business, or other entity. All “Hemp Exchanges” are posted at the discretion of CCE. “Hemp Exchange” requests may be denied or removed at any time for any reason.

Other Resources