In preparing to implement the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (commonly referred to as the 2018 Farm Bill), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host a listening session for initial public input about a new program to regulate hemp production. The listening session will provide interested parties with an opportunity to assist the Agency's future rulemaking efforts by sharing their views on how the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) can partner with agriculture agencies representing states, territories, and Indian tribes to implement a nationwide program for overseeing the production of industrial hemp.

Listening session: The listening session will be on March 13, 2019, and will begin at 12:00 p.m. and conclude by 3:00 p.m.

Registration: You must register by March 11, 2019, to speak during the listening session and to provide oral comments during the listening session. Register in advance for this webinar: zoom.us/​webinar/​register/​WN_​L2G9K7cXTkayQ2O1_​0AP0g. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Comments: For those presenting comments at the online listening session, a written copy of your comments is due by March 11, 2019. You may use farmbill.hemp@usda.gov to submit your written comments via email. AMS will make the agenda for the session available on the website by March 11, 2019.