Plant Industries

Serving the citizens of Arkansas and the agricultural and business communities by providing information and unbiased enforcement of laws and regulations set by the Arkansas State Plant Board

Arkansas Hemp Program Overview & Updates

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Hemp Program licenses Hemp Growers and Hemp Processor/Handlers for Arkansas residents under state and federal hemp laws. Licensed Hemp Growers can grow, store, market, and harvest hemp. Licensed Processor/Handlers can process raw hemp materials into publicly marketable hemp products like hemp seed oil or CBD oil. Hemp is an incredibly versatile plant with many practical uses, such as for industrial product manufacturing, food, and even has known phytoremediation benefits and high carbon sequestration potential.

You need a hemp license to grow, store, handle, sell, or process raw hemp material in Arkansas.

If you wish to engage in hemp agribusiness in Arkansas, apply for the appropriate licensure with the AR Hemp Program. Visit the AR Hemp Program’s APPLICATIONS FOR HEMP LICENSING webpage for more information.

In 2019, Arkansas started issuing licenses for hemp production under the 2014 Farm Bill, ending over 80 years of prohibition in Arkansas. The AR Hemp Research Pilot Program ended in 2021 with the 2018 Farm Bill and the Arkansas Hemp Production Act of 2021.

After USDA approval in December 2021, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture continued regulating hemp production under more commercialized rules. 2022 marked the first year of commercial hemp production in Arkansas, thus creating the AR Hemp Program.

The hemp industry in Arkansas and the United States is still somewhat in its infancy, and there is still much to learn. Be cautious when entering this industry as there are many uncertainties and financial risks involved. Supply chains are still developing, hemp varieties are unpredictable, and many regulatory issues remain unsolved at the federal level.  Market options for fiber and grain/seed are extremely limited, and prices of floral material have drastically declined within the last few years.

The Department asks farmers/producers to really consider the financial risk before entering the industrial hemp industry.  “Don’t plant more than you can afford to lose!”

Program Updates for 2025 Season:

  • The AR Hemp Program proposed new hemp rules before the AR State Plant Board in early 2022.
  • The new rules were approved at the Hemp Committee level, then by the full AR State Plant Board after a 30-day public comment period.
  • The new hemp rules were then pulled from final approval and implementation by the Department, due to industry concerns.
  • Currently, the new hemp rules are pending final approval before the AR Legislature.
  • The AR Hemp Program does not anticipate any drastic changes from the 2024 program season to the 2025 program season.
  • The AR State Plant Board may wait to see if any new hemp laws are passed in the next legislative session before starting the rulemaking process over, including if a new Farm Bill is passed.  
  • If new hemp rules are approved and finally implemented, the Department will assess when the new hemp rules take effect, updating Hemp Licensees as soon as reasonably practical.
  • Next Farm Bill: The Department will assess if a new Farm Bill is passed into federal law, updating Hemp Licensees as soon as reasonably practical if any drastic changes may occur.
  • Program working with new THC testing method adopted from the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC)
  • Program now accepting online payments via the Department’s Plant Industries payment portal.
  • Program now accepting electronic request and reporting forms. Electronic forms are incredibly easy to use with your smart phone.

ARKANSAS HEMP PROGRAM BACKGROUND

Research Hemp Program (2019 – 2021):

The first year of legal hemp production in Arkansas occurred in 2019 after almost eight decades of being associated with its illicit cannabis cousin, marijuana.  From 2019 to 2021, Arkansas’s Hemp Program operated as a research pilot program permitted under the federal 2014 Farm Bill authority and the Arkansas Industrial Hemp Production Act of 2017.  The Arkansas Industrial Hemp Act of 2017 was signed into state law in August of 2017.  In June 2018, the Arkansas State Plant Board approved the “Arkansas Industrial Hemp Research Program Rules,” and the first application for a hemp license was received by the Department in October 2018. 

The Hemp Research Licensing Program effectively allowed licensed growers to conduct research operations and generate industry data in order to assess the agricultural and economic potential of industrial hemp production in Arkansas.  2021 was the final season for the AR Hemp Research Licensing Program, meaning that licensees are no longer required to conduct research plan operations in order to obtain a license.

Hemp Licenses Issued in Research Program:

2019 Season: 125 Growers, 31 Processor/Handlers

2020 Season: 121 Growers, 38 Processor/Handlers

2021 Season: 49 Growers, 22 Processor/Handlers

Commercial Hemp Program (2022 – Current):

On December 20, 2018, the 2018 Farm Bill (P.L. 115-334) was signed into federal law, effectively removing ‘hemp’ from the federal controlled substances list. Per the 2018 Farm Bill and rules from the USDA, the Department was required to submit a state hemp production plan to continue regulating hemp. No drastic changes were necessary for USDA program approval.   

Hemp Licenses Issued in the AR Hemp Program:

2022 Season: 28 Growers, 14 Processor/Handlers

2023 Season: 15 Growers, 5 Processor/Handlers

2024 Season: 14 Growers, 4 Processor/Handlers

I Want to Grow Hemp, Where Do I Start?

  • Determine what type of hemp you want to grow; what fits your farm operations? (Grain, Fiber, or Floral Material for CBD/cannabinoid extraction)
  • Budget your farming operations accordingly, considering the Hemp Program Fees, as well as general operational costs associated with growing or processing/handling hemp. In general, the more sites or “Location IDs” you license, the more expensive the Hemp Grower License becomes.
  • Review the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Hemp Program webpages to learn rules and laws associated with hemp production.
  • Apply for and obtain a Hemp License from the Department.
  • Find a licensed buyer/processor for your intended harvest.  As a starting point, you can find a list of licensed Processor/Handlers on the Hemp Program’s “HEMP HOME” webpage. Harvested hemp materials can only be sold to entities holding a hemp license with either: 1) a state’s department of agriculture, or 2) the USDA.
  • Locate and obtain legal industrial hemp seeds or transplants.  The Hemp Program publishes an annual “Summary of Varieties List” detailing the classification and THC% of each variety produced in Arkansas’s Hemp Program.  Seed companies must be licensed to deal seed into Arkansas.  Visit the Department’s Seed Section website for more information about the Arkansas Seed Dealer/Labeler License. 
  • Research proper crop production techniques before planting the crop.
  • Proceed with caution!  There are no guarantees being involved with the Department’s Hemp Program.  

Reviewed all Hemp Program webpages and still have a questions?
E-mail your hemp-related question(s) to [email protected]