What's Happening?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking public feedback on a proposed extension and revision of its hemp information collection. This initiative aims to gather data on hemp production practices and costs
across the fiber, grain, and floral segments of the industry. The University of Kentucky, under a cooperative agreement with USDA’s Specialty Crops Program, prepared the national, census-style survey. A Federal Register notice, dated November 12, sets January 11, 2027, as the deadline for comments to be assured consideration. The current approval for this information collection is set to expire on November 30, 2026. The AMS estimates that the collection will take an average of 30 minutes per response from approximately 4,010 respondents, totaling an annual reporting burden of 2,010 hours.
Why It's Important?
This data collection is crucial for supporting federal rulemaking needs, congressional reporting, and the analysis of hemp production practices within the U.S. The information gathered will help the USDA understand the evolving hemp industry, which has seen significant growth and regulatory changes in recent years. By providing feedback, stakeholders, including households, businesses, farms, ranches, and organizations registered to grow hemp, can influence the scope and efficiency of future data collection efforts. Accurate and comprehensive data is essential for informed policy decisions, resource allocation, and the development of programs that effectively support the hemp sector. The opportunity for public comment ensures transparency and allows the USDA to refine its data collection methods to better serve the industry's needs.
What's Next?
The deadline for submitting comments on the proposed extension and revision of hemp data collection is January 11, 2027. The AMS is specifically interested in feedback regarding the practical value of the collection, the accuracy of its burden estimates and assumptions, and suggestions for improving the information's quality and clarity. Commenters can also propose ways to reduce reporting time, including the use of electronic collection tools. All comments will be posted publicly without changes and will be summarized in the AMS's request for Office of Management and Budget approval. Producers and other interested parties should reference docket AMS-SC-26-1981 when submitting their feedback through Regulations.gov or by mail.
