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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.

Industry group aims to develop high-CBD varieties that won’t go hot

Published April 30, 2020

A coalition of hemp farmers plans to screen seed-propagated hemp varieties to determine which ones may be able to produce mother stock for clones that will consistently meet federal THC limits.

3 ways hemp farmers can promote earth-friendly cultivation

Published April 29, 2020 | By Laura Drotleff

In the spirit of Earth Day this month, Hemp Industry Daily talked with industry insiders about how hemp farmers can maintain the crop’s green reputation and function through responsible farming practices.

Next round of coronavirus stimulus funding opens, with bumpy results

Published April 27, 2020

Fresh funds approved last week by Congress will replenish the Small Business Administration’s Payment Protection Program with another $310 billion, plus $60 billion for emergency loans on Monday.

Publicly traded hemp, CBD companies may have to repay small business loans

Published April 24, 2020

Hemp companies that are publicly traded and received emergency small-business loans may have to repay those funds under new guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department.

CBD maker, conservationist Jane Goodall partner to support environmental initiatives

Published April 24, 2020

A Canada-based CBD manufacturer has entered an exclusive partnership with wildlife conservationist Jane Goodall to co-develop natural health and wellness products that will help support environmental conservation and reforestation initiatives.

Foreign agricultural workers exempt from Trump’s immigration ban

Published April 23, 2020

President Donald Trump this week announced he would suspend all immigration into the U.S. during the coronavirus outbreak – but the ban makes a few exceptions to support the economy and agriculture.

Farmers included in new round of coronavirus stimulus funding for small businesses

Published April 23, 2020 | By Laura Drotleff

Farmers and hemp businesses could soon be able to apply for loans with a second round of federal funding aimed at keeping small businesses afloat through the coronavirus disruption. The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to pass a $484 billion economic stimulus package after a deal was struck between Congress and the Trump administration. […]

Thursday webinar: Data expert offers ‘COVID-19’s Consumer Insights’ and advice on CBD sales strategy

Published April 22, 2020

Consumers are buying more CBD in response to the coronavirus pandemic. How should your company adjust to meet demand?

Chart: Illinois harvested 73% of crops planted in 2019, according to first-year hemp production totals

Published April 21, 2020 | By Hemp Industry Daily staff

Hemp farmers in Illinois were able to harvest 73% of their 2019 crop, despite swings in the weather that made farming not so favorable in the inaugural year of legal hemp production.

Hemp’s legal status affords new agricultural labor options, but they come at a price

Published April 17, 2020 | By Laura Drotleff

Farmers and businesses across the U.S. hemp supply chain can now access the same foreign guest worker labor that has long been available to other agricultural industries, offering new solutions for the labor-intensive crop.

Small-business coronavirus aid programs are out of money, SBA reports

Published April 16, 2020

Less than three weeks after the U.S. passed a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill to help individuals and businesses through the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the government has reportedly run out of funds for small businesses. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act included $349 billion for small business Economic Injury […]

Chart: Hemp salaries outgunning those for careers in mainstream agriculture

Published April 15, 2020 | By Laura Drotleff

Careers in the booming hemp industry pay far better than their mainstream agriculture counterparts, according to new research.