Louisiana Hemp Seeds

Buy Feminized Hemp Seeds For the State of Louisiana
CBD Hemp Seeds for Growing in Louisiana

It is newly legal to grow hemp in Louisiana. The USDA approved Louisiana’s Hemp Plan in December 2019 and recently adopted the appropriate regulations. The state initially projected that licensing should begin in time for the 2020 growing season. Please contact the Department at [email protected] or 225-952-8062 regarding pending applications.

Get Licensed to Grow Hemp in Louisiana

Louisiana requires licensing for all who wish to grow, handle, process, or transport hemp in the state. Louisiana’s Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) oversees the state’s hemp program and issues all applicable licenses to program participants. CBD products, on the other hand, fall under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Department of Health and Louisiana’s Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.

Four different hemp licenses are available in Louisiana: a Grower License, a non-consumable Processor License, a Seed Producer License, and a Handler License. There are a few distinct differences between the applications. However, they all require accurate contact information and background checks with no drug-related misdemeanors within two years and no felonies within ten years. Louisiana requires state and federal background checks and a fingerprint card to confirm identity. Applicants must submit an Applicant Processing-Disclosure Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information Form and LDAF Background Check Authorization Form directly to Louisiana State Police.

• Grower License: Authorizes the licensee to obtain, possess, store, cultivate, trim, dry, cure, and transport industrial hemp.
• Processor License: Authorizes the licensee to possess, store, transport, and process ‘non-consumable’ industrial hemp.
• Seed Producer License: Authorizes the licensee to produce, transport, and sell approved seeds and transplants to other industrial hemp licensees. Allows licensees to produce, handle, and transport hemp seeds in Louisiana.
• Handler License: Authorizes the licensee to transport for compensation, commercially harvest, store, grind, clean, package, broker, and test industrial hemp and hemp seed.

New applicants can submit hemp licensing registration anytime, whereas renewal applications have an annual deadline of November 30 at 4:30 pm.

Mandatory Reporting in Louisiana

Before buying hemp seeds in Louisiana, one must first submit a Seed Acquisition Request Form. The form must accompany a Certificate of Analysis from the seed vendor proving that the parent complies with local hemp laws. The state requests at least two weeks to process the Seed Acquisition Request form. Buying hemp seeds before receiving LDAF approval is prohibited.

Within 15 days after planting the first hemp seed or plant, licensees must submit a 1^st Report of Planting. The form requires information including location ID, FSA Lot ID, varieties planted, the date of planting, and the intended end-use of the hemp material.

Louisiana Hemp Sampling and Testing

Participants in Louisiana’s hemp program must agree to random crop sampling to determine compliance. They will have unrestricted access during regular business hours to inspect seeds, plants, and plant parts. The licensee is not responsible for any fees associated with investigation testing.

Licensees should expect at least one annual random sample to verify compliance with their industrial hemp crops and materials. Growers must submit a Harvest Report with ample time for processing before harvest or a Destruction Report with ample time for processing before destruction. Note that it is unlawful to harvest or destroy hemp without written approval from the LDAF.

After receiving the report, the LDAF will attempt to contact the licensee to schedule a date and time for sampling. The licensee or designated responsible party must be present during the sampling process. The LDAF will collect a representative sample from each plot or greenhouse to test for THC content. The Department or approved third-party facility will then test the samples using Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet Detection (LC-UV) to determine their post-decarboxylation THC content.

Growers must harvest hemp crops with proven compliance within 30 days after taking samples. If they fail to do so, an additional test and a fee of $250 per test site are required.

The Department will issue a Certificate of Analysis for all compliant hemp crops, after which no further action is necessary. Should lab results suggest non-compliance, the licensee can request an additional test of the remediated material within ten days. If a licensee does not request a re-sample of the remediated material within ten days, or if the sample continues to prove non-compliance, then the corresponding hemp plants are to be destroyed under LDAF supervision according to USDA destruction methods.

Hemp Pesticide Law

Anyone who applies pesticides or recommends hemp pesticide use for a fee must be certified to do so. They must also register any pesticide application machinery and pay all applicable fees annually. Learn more about Pesticide Licensing and Certification here.

Buy Louisiana Feminized Hemp Seeds

Louisiana has strict hemp seed requirements. The state does not provide hemp seeds to program participants. It is up to the consumer to ensure that they buy hemp seeds from a reputable distributor with updated COAs and a proven track record of success.

Fortuna offers compliant feminized CBD seeds that meet Louisiana seed distributor standards. Our boutique quality feminized hemp seeds include valid COAs with every variety. We also offer discounts on bulk orders and consultation services to help Louisiana hemp farmers find everything they need to find a fortune in hemp farming.

Please note that this informational webpage is not a substitution for reading the law, rules, and regulations of the Louisiana Industrial Hemp Program. To learn more about Louisiana’s Hemp Program, visit their website or contact us to learn how we can help.