Applications for Industrial Hemp Licenses

The Kansas Department of Agriculture implemented the Commercial Industrial Hemp Program as authorized by the Commercial Industrial Hemp Act; K.S.A. 2-3901 et seq.

Persons seeking to cultivate or produce industrial hemp must be licensed by KDA pursuant to the Act. The application deadline for the 2023 growing season is March 15, 2023. Applications for the 2023 growing season are available October 2023. If you submitted an application, post-marked no later than the deadline and have yet to receive correspondence from KDA, please notify kda.industrialhemp@ks.gov. Additionally, persons seeking to process industrial hemp must register with the State Fire Marshal.

Applications

Table 1. Applications and Request Forms for the Commercial Industrial Hemp Program

What	Who	Due to KDA	Comments
License Application	Each individual seeking a license to cultivate or produce industrial hemp	March 15 each year	No later than March 15 for each growing season
Request for Permission (General)	The commercial hemp producer applicant or licensee	At the time of an application submission or request for modification of license	Utilize when requesting planting restriction exemption
State Educational Institution Request	The State educational institute application	At the time of an application submission

Checklist 2023 - Industrial Hemp Producer License Application

All Kansas Commercial industrial hemp producer license applications must include a legible map. Failure to include the required information may result in the application being returned or denied. An example of an acceptable map is located with the Commercial Industrial Hemp Producer License Application. See the documents below for a map tutorial.

Step by Step Map Tutorial

Step by Step Tutorial How to Measure a Field

How to Submit Your Application

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Submit together in one mailing:
- Commercial Industrial Hemp Producer License Application
- Maps and other documentation
- Legible and completed fingerprint card and waiver form of applicant
- Applicable fees (can be all in one check)
Note: All pages of the fingerprint waiver form must be completed. Please make sure all boxes on the application are checked and contain proper signatures.
Send to:

Kansas Department of Agriculture
Attn: Commercial Industrial Hemp Program
1320 Research Park Drive
Manhattan, KS 66502

*Electronic submission is NOT an option. Hard copies only.
Deadline: No later than March 15 each year

All application and supplemental materials must be included. No application will be considered if any part of the application requirements are postmarked after March 15.
State and National Criminal History Background Check

Details about how to obtain, complete, and submit a fingerprint card and the waiver for a national criminal history background check please visit: State and National Criminal History Record Check
Guidelines for Filling Out License Applications
- Applications must be complete, accurate and legible.
- KDA is not required to request additional information to clarify a license application. Incomplete or illegible license applications shall not be accepted, and applicable fees shall not be refunded. KDA is not responsible for missing information due to formatting or printing errors by applicants.
- Providing false, misleading or incorrect information on your license application or attachments may result in your license application being denied, revocation of any license, and denial of future license applications.
Important Deadlines

Please access How to file reports for important application and reporting deadlines.

Program Fees

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Summary of Fees

Application Fees

A $100.00 application fee must be submitted with your completed license application. Application fees do not apply to license fees.
Criminal History Record Check Fees

A $47.00 criminal history record check fee must be submitted with your completed license application.
License Fees

A $1,200.00 license fee is due within 15 days of notice of your application’s conditional approval. If you are conditionally approved for participation in the Program, you will be notified of your approval and required to pay your license fee before a license is issued. If you do not pay the license fee within 15 days of your conditional approval, licensing consideration is terminated, and requested licenses will not be issued. Partial payments and payment plans are not be accepted by KDA.
Testing Fees

A $225.00 testing fee, for each sample collected and tested by KDA, must be submitted upon the licensee’s receipt of the invoice provided by KDA. Each lot and variety are required to be sampled and tested separately.
Subsequent Sampling Fees

Subsequent sampling fees must be submitted upon the licensee’s receipt of the invoice provided by KDA. Subsequent sampling fees are only incurred during a subsequently requested inspection, and are assessed based on transportation and inspection time at $45.00 per hour, and mileage at the rate established by the Department of Administration.
Modification Fees

A $50.00 modification fee must be submitted at the time of any license request changes. Multiple changes may be requested per modification.
Payment Options

All fee payments must be made by check or money order and made payable to the Kansas Department of Agriculture unless otherwise specified. Application, criminal history record check, license, testing, subsequent sampling, and modification fees are not refundable.

Application Review Process

1. Complete application arrives at KDA (including the application, fingerprint card, waiver, supporting documentation and applicable fees).

2. Fingerprint cards and waivers are sent to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to begin the state and national criminal history check. The check is expected to take two to three weeks upon the receipt of the fingerprint card and waiver by KDA.

If an illegible fingerprint card is submitted for an individual, the illegible card will be sent back to KDA and the individual who submitted the illegible fingerprint card must submit a new and legible card and a new waiver. Illegible fingerprint cards will greatly slow the process; click here for a list of the most common reasons fingerprint cards are returned.

3. Applications are reviewed by administrative staff at KDA to ensure each meets all program requirements.

4. If the Secretary of Agriculture approves the application, the applicant will be provided with a conditional approval notice and will be required to send the applicable license fee.

5. Your license fee is due within 15 days of being notified of your conditional approval. If you do not pay the license fee within 15 days, your conditional approval will be terminated, and requested licenses will not be issued.

6. Once your license fee is received, your license will be issued.

7. See How to File Reports for additional dates that apply to licensed participants of the Program.

Watch your email! The primary method of communication throughout this process will be via email. Please report any communication that seems fraudulent to KDA. Your security and privacy are very important to us.

Open Records

License applications and documentation submitted to KDA are subject to public disclosure pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act. You must maintain a copy of your completed License Application, all documents, and, if applicable, the mailing receipt and tracking number for your records. Record retention is required by regulation.

Criminal History Record Check Fee	$47 (this is the KBI’s standard fingerprint-based criminal history record check fee)	At the time the commercial hemp producer license application is submitted
Application Fee	$100 (does NOT apply to license fee)	At the time the commercial hemp producer license application is submitted
License Fee	$1,200	Upon the licensee’s receipt of the invoice provided by KDA
Testing Fees	$225 per laboratory test (each lot and variety must be sampled separately)	Upon the licensee’s receipt of the invoice provided by KDA
Subsequent Sampling Fee	Transportation and inspection time at $45 per hour, and mileage at the rate established by the Department of Administration	Upon the licensee’s receipt of the invoice provided by KDA
Modification Fee	$50 for each requested change to a license issued by KDA, multiple changes may be requested per modification	At the time of the request for modification of license

Kansas Department of Agriculture

Applications for Industrial Hemp Licenses

Applications

How to Submit Your Application

How To Submit Your Application

Program Fees

Program Fees

Application Review Process

Open Records