Kentucky Pilot Ginseng Grower Program

History of Ginseng Cultivation

Since the near beginning of the North American ginseng trade, landowners and property managers have grown American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in their forests and woodlots. Ginseng cultivation has fallen in and out of fashion over the past 150 years, depending on market forces. Large, focused pushes for ginseng cultivation have been documented in historical governmental publications beginning in the 1890s. A renewed, modern focus on ginseng production followed the 1975 listing of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) on Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

For federal approval, states and tribes are required to develop programs outlining how trade legally meets the requirements set forth by 50 CFR Part 23, whether that ginseng is wild-collected or artificially propagated. Of those with an approved wild ginseng program, Kentucky traditionally reports the largest annual harvest of wild ginseng.

For landowners or property managers who are also ginseng growers, the Pilot Ginseng Grower Program is a way to distinguish an artificially propagated ginseng crop from those foraged from natural, wild populations. The goals of this grower program are to reduce harvest pressure on wild ginseng populations, create and recognize artificially propagated ginseng as a crop, and distinguish the market supply of artificially propagated ginseng from wild harvested ginseng.  

registering as a ginseng grower

To register as a Kentucky Ginseng Grower you must submit a completed Ginseng Grower Registration Form. Ginseng growers must agree to allow on-site visit(s) and evaluation of habitat and wild ginseng populations. A registered ginseng grower must receive approval from the state ginseng program prior to all sales. Annually thereafter, a registered grower will maintain records reporting on ginseng harvest, growing practices, and sales. These documents should be made available upon request and maintained for a period of ten years.

Benefits of registering as a ginseng grower:

Best Practices for Registered Ginseng Growers

Good record keeping is essential for a grower. Use a notebook to record any horticultural methods and dates of site preparation. Maintain records of planting dates, locations, and parental source(s) for each planting site. KDA has developed forms for annual reporting and reporting of plant stock and crop loss which will be available soon. These forms, or another reliable method, may be used to record information about your ginseng production.

Follow a “do no harm” policy towards any current wild ginseng populations. This includes distancing new plantings a minimum of 300 feet from existing wild ginseng plants.

Artificially propagated ginseng that has been harvested may be designated as a wild-simulated, woods-grown or cultivated ginseng crop through the Pilot Ginseng Grower Program. Artificially propagated ginseng harvested will follow harvest rule established under 302 KAR 45:101.

A grower may also apply to become a ginseng dealer for the purpose of certifying their artificially propagated ginseng. An export certificate is required to allow artificially propagated ginseng to be legally exported out of Kentucky.

A ginseng dealer must prevent the co-mingling of wild ginseng with artificially propagated, wild-simulated, woods grown, and/or cultivated ginseng. This is true when growing, harvesting, buying, and/or selling ginseng. A ginseng dealer purchasing wild ginseng roots from other harvesters or dealers, or purchasing certified ginseng roots from other states, must maintain proper inventory controls.

Definitions for different ginseng types can be found under 302 KAR 45:010 Section 1.

Regulatory References