MDC reminds ginseng harvesters of season opening and new regulations

Missouri’s ginseng harvest season opens September 1 and closes December 31. Ginseng plants must have three or more true leaves (prongs) to be legally harvested and the entire stalk and leaves must be kept with the plant and roots until they are taken to the harvester’s home or place of business. The seeds of harvested ginseng plants must be planted within 100 feet of the parent plant. Ginseng may only be harvested from private land and only with permission of the private landowner. 

 

New this year, any person harvesting, possessing or transporting ginseng must have a ginseng harvester permit. Permits for Missouri residents are $20.00 and for nonresidents are $150.00. Also new this year, any person shipping or transporting Missouri ginseng out of state must purchase a ginseng certification authorization at a cost of $25.00. Ginseng certification authorizations are required before a conservation agent can provide the ginseng harvester, free of charge, the federally-required ginseng certificate of origin. Both the ginseng certification authorizations and certificates of origin are for specific and indivisible weights of ginseng roots. Ginseng harvester permits and certification authorizations may be purchased at permit vendors, online at MDC/permits, or through MDC’s MO Hunting app. 

 

The new ginseng regulations are necessary to ensure that Missouri’s ginseng harvest is more accurately quantified so that its continued harvest may be sustained for future generations of citizens. For more information about ginseng go to https://mdc.mo.gov/about-us/about-regulations/wild-ginseng-harvest-regulations. Please pay particular attention to those headings labeled “additional regulations effective July 1, 2025”.