SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture's Pest Exclusion Branch is announcing 13 vacancies on the Industrial Hemp Advisory Board, or IHAB.

There are currently 11 board members with terms of office expiring on May 31, 2020, and Senate Bill 153 added two additional board members, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

The board advises CDFA and makes recommendations on matters including, but not limited to, industrial hemp seed law and regulations, enforcement, annual budgets, and the setting of an assessment rate.

The term of office for board members is three years.

Members meet at least once per year but may meet more frequently if needed.

The members receive no compensation but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources.

Funded by the industrial hemp industry and implemented by the Industrial Hemp Program at CDFA, enforcement of California Industrial Hemp Law ensures an orderly market of industrial hemp registration and compliance.

The Industrial Hemp Advisory Board makes recommendations to the CDFA Secretary on all matters pertaining to industrial hemp seed law and regulations, enforcement, annual budgets, and the setting of an assessment rate required to accomplish the purposes of the California Industrial Hemp Law.

The board has the following vacancies:

• Five of the board members shall be registered cultivators of industrial hemp.
• Two board members shall be members of an established agricultural research institution (as defined in FAC § 81000).
• One board member shall be a representative as provided by the California State Sheriffs’ Association and approved by the secretary.
• One board member shall be a county agricultural commissioner.
• One board member shall be a representative of the Hemp Industries Association or its successor industry association.
• Two members shall be representatives of businesses that sell industrial hemp products.
• One board member shall be a member of the public.

The successful candidates will be appointed to serve a three-year term that expires May 31, 2023.

Individuals interested in being considered for these Board appointments should send a letter of interest, indicating which position(s) they are eligible to fill, and a brief resumé to Michelle Phillips by March 15, 2020, at California Department of Food and Agriculture, Pest Exclusion Branch, 1220 N St., Sacramento, CA 95814, Attention: Michelle Phillips.

For additional information, visit the Industrial Hemp Program webpage at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/industrialhemp/, contact the Nursery, Seed, and Cotton Program at 916-654-0435, or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .