The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development met on Wednesday to discuss proposed bills relating to the Department of Agriculture (Dept. of Ag.).
Senate Bill 192 relates to new rules and regulations for industrial hemp in West Virginia.
The bill would require licensing for the use of land to cultivate, grow, harvest, and sell industrial hemp throughout the state. Applicants would have to pay a yearly application fee of $100 per acre. Applicants will be required to submit an application for each acre of land that is separated by more than a mile, and will be charged the $100 fee for each application.
The bill would also make it a requirement that the growers notify the Dept. of Ag. 30 days prior to harvest. This provision would be to allow the testing and supervision of industrial hemp during harvest.
Senate Bill 191 relates to animal disease control regulations for the Dept. of Ag. The bill would prohibit the release of domestic livestock into the wilderness such as feral swine.
The bill would also prohibit chronic neglect of fencing. Farmers to who neglect to build proper fencing for their livestock may be fined misdemeanor penalty.
Both bills were referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
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