The  Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will take over the state’s four-year pilot program on January 1, 2022. Having the USDA control Wisconsin’s hemp program is expected to help farmers save money by lowering application fees and allowing them to use private testing laboratories.

“There’s so many factors that go into it, but our thought on this whole process was we wanted to put the industry in the best opportunity to produce hemp in Wisconsin. Right now this transition is the best option,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski.

The change is not expected to disrupt hemp farming in the state because Wisconsin hemp farmers already follow federal regulations and.

“We are collaborating with USDA for a smooth transition and providing hemp growers with the resources they need to understand any changes,” said Sara Walling, DATCP’s Division of Agriculture Resource Management administrator.

Processors will no longer need a processing license from the state but will remain under state authority for consumer and food products.