According to an American Farm Bureau Federation economist, ever since the 2018 farm bill was signed, farmers, regulators and law enforcement have been operating in a state of uncertainty as they waited for the USDA to release rules on hemp production. The 2018 farm bill legalized the production of hemp as an agricultural commodity while removing it from the list of controlled substances. On Oct. 29, the USDA released its interim final rule for regulations, establishing a domestic hemp production program. AFBF Economist Michael Nepveux says the rule doesn’t make everyone totally happy, and there are still a few lingering questions. However, the department deserves significant credit for putting together a comprehensive set of regulations for a complicated issue in a relatively short period of time, he says. Learn more in this AFBF Market Intel update about general regulations, testing, disposal of "hot crops," interstate commerce, financing issues, background checks, and crop insurance. You can also find state-by-state statutes, case law and major research reports complied by the National Agricultural Law Center at this link.