BROOMFIELD — The Colorado Department of Agriculture is introducing a new program aimed at bringing industrial hemp into mainstream agriculture. Seed produced and conditioned under this program will be issued “CDA Approved Certified Seed” tags through the Colorado Seed Growers Association (CSGA) if the production standards are met and then will be available for purchase through the developer.
“This program’s first project is to grow hemp across Colorado’s diverse growing conditions to ensure mature plants comply with hemp standards. This is the first certified hemp seed program in the country and the first-of-its-kind study in Colorado. We are on the cutting edge of this emerging industry and this new program can help shape the future of the hemp industry,” said Duane Sinning, CDA’s Division of Plant Industry Assistant Director.
The Department will work in cooperation with Colorado State University and CSGA to provide breeding companies the opportunity to verify their seeds produce mature plants at or below the 0.3% THC threshold required to label the plant as “industrial hemp.”
Seed varieties will be grown and tested in the northeast, southeast, Front Range, the San Luis Valley and on the western slope. These five locations vary in daytime and nighttime temperatures, in altitude, length of growing season, and soil types. Varieties that test at or below the THC threshold at all five trial locations will be eligible to be produced by the CSGA as “CDA Approved Certified Seed.” CSGA seed growers produce certified seed of a number of different crops by following standards and rules established by the Association of Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA), an organization of which CSGA is a member.
“Adding industrial hemp to the list of crops for which CSGA provides seed certification represents a milestone for the industry and positions Colorado as a leader in industrial hemp innovation,” said Rick Novak, director of seed programs as Colorado State University. “Our collaboration with both CSGA and CDA demonstrates that the seed certification program can advance agricultural research while also serving as a resource for industry.”
Farmers who purchase and plant “CDA Approved Certified Seed” will benefit knowing that the tight production process to produce their seeds and the testing done on those varieties ensures their crop will not exceed the 0.3% THC threshold and, thus, prevent crop destruction for those plants above the threshold. Besides ensuring the integrity and purity of the seeds, the program also certifies that the seeds are free of pests and weeds.
To participate in the industrial hemp trial, the legal owner of the seed genetics must submit all pertinent variety information to establish genetic ownership along with 5,000 seeds. It is anticipated that seed produced from approved low THC varieties and grown under the standards and rules of “CDA Approved Certified Seed” program may be available for the 2017 planting season.
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