Any person or legal business entity in South Dakota shall obtain a license from the department to purchase, receive, or obtain industrial hemp, other than industrial hemp product for planting, storing, propagating, or processing industrial hemp. A growers license is not required for possession or distribution of hemp seed. Requirements for licensure and participation in the South Dakota Industrial Hemp plan can be found in the approved State Plan and the State Law and rules (ARSD 12:82) regarding industrial hemp.
Updates
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has received final approval by the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the South Dakota Industrial
Hemp Plan.
Growers
Applicants must submit a non-refundable $50 application fee along with a completed Industrial Hemp Growers
License application. State and federal background checks will be conducted by the South Dakota Division of
Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the applicant, key participants, and
landowner. Once the background checks are cleared, the application can be accepted. If growing within the
corporate limits of any municipality, approval from the municipality shall be included in letter form with
application.
Upon notification of approval of a grower license, the applicant must remit to DANR a $500 license fee. License will be mailed via US Mail after payment is received.
Grower license is valid for 15 months from the date of issue.
Processors
Applicants must submit a non-refundable $50 application fee along with with a completed Industrial Hemp Processors License Application. State and federal background checks will be conducted by
the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the
applicant and key participants, and Landowner.
Once the background checks are cleared and an application can be accepted.
Upon notification of approval of a processor license, the applicant must remit to DANR a $2000 license fee. License and memorandum of understanding will be mailed via US Mail after payment is received.
Processor licenses is valid for 15 months from the date of issue.
Industrial Hemp Amendment FormAny change to the information on an approved license must be submitted to DANR within 10 business days using the Industrial Hemp Amendment Form.
Industrial Hemp Paper Form (PDF Download)
To mail in your application fee of $50 please mail a check to:
South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Industrial Hemp Program
523 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
Planting Verification Inspection
Within 30 days of planting, each licensee shall file documentation with the department to identify the
type and variety of industrial hemp seed planted with the corresponding lot. Upon receipt of this
documentation a planting verification inspection will be scheduled. This inspection will verify the GPS
coordinates of the growing sites, acreage or square feet planted, and the FSA Farm, Tract, and Field Number where hemp is planted. The licensee must be present at the
inspection.
Grower Inspection Sample
The Department or The Department of Public Safety shall conduct grower inspections and sampling of each lot not more than 30
days before the hemp is harvested. The licensee shall pay the department a grower inspection and sample
fee of $250 per hemp lot inspected. No harvested lot of industrial hemp shall be comingled with another
harvested lot of industrial hemp or other material. No industrial hemp may leave the dominion of control
of the licensee until the licensee receives a laboratory result form DANR confirming that the lot complies
with the law. The licensee must be present at the inspection.
Disposal or Remediation of Non-Compliant Plants
Industrial hemp plants exceeding the legal THC level must either be remediated or disposed under the
oversight of DANR or DPS. Licensees must provide a plan for
remediation or disposal of noncompliant industrial hemp. All disposal or remediation of non compliant
industrial hemp shall comply with USDA and DANR guidelines. Disposal is required if post-remediated crop
fails THC tests. These hemp lots must be chemically or mechanically destroyed and rendered
non-retrievable, non-ingestible, and unfit to enter the stream of commerce using USDA approved disposal
guidelines.
On-site disposal is also required for industrial hemp lots that have been destroyed due to pests, insects, weeds, disease, poor stand, or industrial hemp lots destroyed by natural disaster or weather events such as wind, hail, or flood. These hemp lots must be chemically or mechanically destroyed and rendered non-retrievable, non-ingestible, and unfit to enter the stream of commerce using USDA approved disposal guidelines. The disposal verification inspection will verify hemp lots being destroyed. The licensee must be present at the inspection.
Buying Industrial Hemp Seeds
Seed can be purchased and moved into South Dakota from any state or country; however, we urge caution in
making seed purchases. We encourage buying seed from a reputable source and that the variety is known to
have delta-9 THC levels below 0.3%. Please contact the DANR seed department for seed law information.
Buying Industrial Hemp Clones
Clones or seedlings may be brought into the state, however, you must possess a South Dakota Grower License
to do so.
Selling Industrial Hemp Seeds
The Industrial Hemp program requires a seed permit for selling seeds.
Contact DANR seed department to obtain a seed permit.
Click here to visit the DANR Seed Program page
For more information contact:
Derek Schiefelbein
Industrial Hemp Program Manager
Phone (605) 773-4432
Email Me
Rick Geppert
Industrial Hemp Program Specialist
Phone (605) 280-4925
Email Me