Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture opened its online portal for hemp growers and processors seeking 2027 licenses. The deadline is April 30, 2027, and the permits are valid for the 2027 calendar year.
Businesses growing hemp indoors after Dec. 31, 2026 must renew before year‑end.
How to apply
Applicants and authorized representatives must submit fingerprints and pass a criminal background check. The application is available on the Department of Agriculture’s website.
The hemp license permits growing and processing only; it excludes cultivation, sale, manufacturing, or marketing of hemp‑derived cannabinoid products, according to the MDA.
Fees and testing
License fees start at $400, with an additional $250 for each growing or processing location, and a 5% surcharge funds technology modernization.
A separate $250 processor fee no longer exists.
Each hemp lot requires pre‑harvest THC testing, and every official sample collected costs $100.
Hemp is defined by less than 0.3% total THC by dry weight, while higher concentrations classify the crop as marijuana.
Minnesota began operating under a federally approved hemp production plan in 2021.
Questions can be sent to hemp.mda@state.mn.us or called at 651‑201‑6600.
