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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Participants are being sought for the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s industrial hemp pilot program.

“Industrial hemp may only be grown in North Dakota through the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s pilot program or by institutions of higher education,” North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “We are currently seeking applicants wishing to participate in the department’s pilot program for the purposes of agricultural or academic research.”

A provision in the 2014 farm bill gives authority to state departments of agriculture to cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes.

Applicants must submit a project proposal, signed memorandum of understanding and request for seed (if applicable). Proposals will be ranked by a committee appointed by the agriculture commissioner.

Applicants chosen will be required to submit a notarized application, fingerprints and associated fees.

Applications and instructions can be found at http://www.nd.gov/ndda/program/industrial-hemp.

The deadline for proposals is 5 p.m. CST, Friday, January 1, 2016. Goehring said applicants needing more information should contact Rachel Seifert-Spilde at 701-328-4128 or rseifert@nd.gov.