CDFA finalized its hemp plan and yesterday submitted it to USDA for review.

The hemp industry has sued the Drug Enforcement Administration, saying it exceeded its authority in a rule published last month that says “cannabis-derived material” cannot contain more than 0.3% of THC by dry weight.

Democratic congressional leaders refused to allow replenishment of a key Agriculture Department account, charging that the White House is employing it as a “political slush fund.” Senate Republicans quickly criticized the measure.

The Agriculture Department is launching a new round of coronavirus relief payments worth up to $14 billion that will be spread over more commodities with new methods of calculating the assistance.

The industrial hemp industry’s “green rush,” which began in mid-2017, has cooled, at least for those growing hemp for the cannabidiol (CBD) market and many companies that process it.

The hemp sector is hopeful a recent USDA request for comment on multiple pending hemp regulations means the department will suspend the requirements before they become effective at the end of next month.

Many in the hemp industry are worried a new Drug Enforcement Administration rule will make processors vulnerable to enforcement under the Controlled Substances Act, and some are looking at filing a lawsuit to challenge it.

Central Valley readies for Housing for Harvest * USDA explains slow CFAP payments * Farm bankruptcies slow

CDFA is finalizing its hemp plan to submit to USDA. Ross said she is hopeful this will happen early this month.

The Democratic-controlled House approved a package of fiscal 2021 spending bills Friday that would provide about $1 billion for rural broadband expansion while blocking the Trump administration from cutting food stamp rolls and carrying out key regulatory relief measures.