EMAIL: laurad@staging-hempindustrydaily.kinsta.cloud
PHONE: 720.213.5963

Laura Drotleff

Laura has specialized in agricultural journalism for the past 20 years. Most recently she served as the editor of a B2B publication and multimedia properties focused on productivity, efficiency and profitability in commercial greenhouse cultivation. She has reported on multiple aspects of specialty crops including floriculture, fruit, vegetables, citrus and cannabis. She also has served extensively on various horticulture industry association boards. Laura is a Michigan State University graduate and is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Hemp in US animal feed is one step closer to fruition

Published February 23, 2021 | By Laura Drotleff

The hemp industry is a little closer to seeing hemp-based animal feed become a reality.

One third of Southwestern Oregon hemp farms violated state water laws in 2020

Published February 22, 2021

Oregon state water officials uncovered violations by 33% of hemp growers last year in an audit reviewing operations in the southwestern region of the state.

Montana lawmakers mull plan to separate hemp, marijuana production

Published February 19, 2021

A Montana state Senate committee on Thursday heard from hemp and cannabis growers to determine whether to approve a bill that would require medical marijuana growers to keep their operations confined to indoor environments, leaving the outdoors for hemp production only.

California hemp producer sues Santa Cruz County for incorrect hemp sampling, leading to crop loss

Published February 18, 2021

Sungrown Organic Hemp, a hemp producer based in Watsonville, California, filed a $9.6 million lawsuit on Tuesday in county court, claiming that the Santa Cruz County Department of Agriculture incorrectly sampled its 2019 hemp crop, which led to a false determination that the crop was marijuana.

8 things to consider when selecting seed-propagated hemp genetics for field planting

Published February 17, 2021 | By Laura Drotleff

Hemp farmers have a number of choices and sources for the varieties they will plant in 2021, but there are several criteria that growers should consider in selecting hemp genetics.

Are hemp plant breeders ramping up on utility patents to protect novel varieties?

Published February 12, 2021 | By Laura Drotleff

Hemp genetics companies have been actively pursuing patents to protect their intellectual property after years of work to develop novel genetics. But despite intellectual property protection that became available after the U.S. legalized hemp production in 2018, some companies are still opting for more expensive and more comprehensive plant utility patents for the highest level […]

California labor board shuts down hempseed company for workforce pay, insurance violations

Published February 11, 2021

A California hemp seed company was closed by the state labor board following complaints that the company hadn’t paid full-timeworkers since mid-December.

Oregon hemp-drying companies fined nearly $600K for air violations

Published February 10, 2021

Two associated hemp drying companies and their chief executive have each been fined nearly $200,000 in civil penalties by state environmental regulators in Oregon.

CBD brand hires former FDA executive to oversee regulatory initiatives

Published February 5, 2021

North Carolina CBD maker cbdMD has hired Sibyl Swift, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration official as a regulatory consultant to lead the company’s regulatory efforts and prepare products for certifications.

Bipartisan legislation directs Congress to regulate hemp-CBD as a dietary supplement

Published February 5, 2021

A bipartisan bill that was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday could push legal CBD through in Congress, providing consumer access and protection while clearing the supply chain bottleneck.

Know before you grow: How to access certified hemp varieties

Published February 4, 2021 | By Laura Drotleff

In the two years since hemp became a legal commercial crop in the United States, producers’ challenges in sourcing a consistent supply of predictable, reliable genetics haven’t subsided, as the industry establishes itself and plant-breeding efforts continue. Growers looking to source reliable hemp genetics may consider looking at seed from varieties that have been produced […]

AOSCA review board clears 4 new CBD-dominant seeds

Published February 3, 2021

A publicly traded California biotech company announced Tuesday that four of its hempseed varieties have been aproved by the national variety board of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies. Davis-based Arcadia Biosciences received eligibility for certified seed production for its GoodHemp brand varieties including Rogue, Umpqua, Santiam and Potomac. All four varieties are seed-propagated, […]