Source: NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, 6/29/20

 Under the USDA’s Interim Final Rule, published October 2019, all state pilot programs will end October 30, 2020. This includes the pilot program that we are currently operating under in NC. By all accounts, we will still continue to have a licensing program in NC, but what is still uncertain is which program we will be operating under.

If the US Congress takes no further action, it will most likely be the USDA’s plan. However, if Congress passes a bill that allows the USDA to extend the time that pilot programs are allowed to continue, then it is possible that we could continue under our current pilot program for at least another growing season. While there has been support for extending pilot programs, it is unclear how likely it is to happen (for example, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) passed a policy resolution in February in support of continuing pilot programs).

Since it does seem increasingly likely that we will be operating under the provisions of the USDA’s plan at the end of October, it seems worthwhile to review some of the key provisions, as there will be important differences between the pilot program and the USDA’s program.

For more information, click here.