South Carolina opens 2025 Hemp permit applications

Dec 10, 2024
By Farms.com

Apply for Hemp permits online starting Jan 1

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture will accept Hemp Farming Permit applications online for the 2025 season. Farmers must submit their applications by Feb. 28, 2025, through the official website agriculture.sc.gov/hemp.

Eligibility criteria include completing a background check through IdentoGO and providing a Farm Service Agency (FSA) number.

Only South Carolina residents may apply, and permits are renewed annually. Application fees are $100, with a $500 permit fee due upon approval.

Late applications are accepted from March 1 to March 8, with an additional $500 non-refundable late fee. Applications missing information by Feb. 28 will incur the late fee. Incomplete submissions beyond March 8 will be disqualified.

Applicants must ensure their lease agreements are notarized and recorded with the county Register of Deeds. Proper documentation is essential to avoid delays or rejection.

“Proper documentation ensures timely processing and avoids additional fees,” emphasized Jon Hubbert, State Conservationist.

For additional details and support, visit agriculture.sc.gov/hemp or contact hempstaff@scda.sc.gov. Ensure compliance to secure your permit for the upcoming season.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.