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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.

‘As impatient as we are, we’re going to follow their guidelines’ : Q&A with Ellen Deutsch

Published February 24, 2020 | By Laura Drotleff

Ellen Deutsch, Stem Holdings’ executive vice president and chief operating officer, believes hemp and CBD companies must focus on developing brands that are sustainably produced with high-quality, consistent formulations that will gain trust among consumers.

Louisiana begins licensing farmers, CBD firms to build state’s nascent hemp industry

Published February 21, 2020 | By Hemp Industry Daily staff

Agriculture officials in Louisiana have begun issuing the first hemp production and handling licenses to farmers, processors and transporters, while businesses ranging from gas stations to pharmacies have received the go-ahead they need to sell products containing CBD in the state. As one of the first three states to receive federal approval for its state […]

Minor cannabinoids offer higher prices and less federal oversight, but risks abound

Published February 19, 2020 | By Laura Drotleff

Farmers feeling the effects of an oversupply of hemp for CBD are looking to minor cannabinoid production as another option to make the kind of profit margins they thought they would see from entering the hemp space. More hemp plant breeders are offering genetics for CBG production in 2020, while others are working to select […]

Pennsylvania hemp processor closes, citing falling hemp and CBD prices

Published February 18, 2020

A major hemp processor based in Pittsburgh folded after the collapse of hemp and CBD market prices. Commonwealth Alternative Medicinal Options closed its 45,000-square-foot CBD processing facility on Monday, leaving a hole in the local supply chain, according to the Tribune-Review. Chief operating officer Mike Moody said the company saw a 75% price decrease for its […]

Agribusiness giant Syngenta adds hemp to its lobbying efforts

Published February 18, 2020

Another Big Agriculture company has acknowledged engaging in lobbying activity on behalf of industrial hemp. Syngenta AG, a major player in global agriculture with agronomic interests from plant breeding to crop protection, said it is monitoring industrial hemp regulations. Company officials say they are especially interested in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granting registrations for […]

President Trump requests additional funds to regulate CBD, hemp

Published February 12, 2020 | By Laura Drotleff

Hemp and CBD would get new attention by federal agencies under a 2021 budget plan released this week by President Donald Trump. Trump’s proposal asks for an additional $5 million next fiscal year for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate cannabis and its derivatives, including CBD. The president also asked for more money […]

South Dakota hemp crop possible for 2020 after legalization clears House

Published February 11, 2020

The South Dakota House voted Tuesday to legalize and regulate the growth, processing and transportation of industrial hemp in the state. Legislators didn’t even debate the bill, which passed with a two-thirds majority. The measure next be considered by the South Dakota Senate. If that body also passes the legislation with a two-thirds majority and […]

Hemp farmers should act fast to sign up for new USDA crop insurance options

Published February 10, 2020 | By Laura Drotleff

Federal agriculture officials have introduced two crop insurance programs for hemp, both designed to protect farmers growing the new commodity from damage during natural disasters. But the programs have tight deadlines and limitations on who is eligible. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s newly available Multi-Peril Crop Insurance and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program both provide […]

USDA offers new insurance options but warns that production rules are staying – for now

Published February 7, 2020 | By Laura Drotleff

Hemp farmers are about to get some help protecting their crops from natural disasters, but any hope that the proposed federal production rules will change in time for the 2020 growing season should be put aside for now, officials say. Top officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have revealed new details for two hemp […]

South Dakota hemp bill advances with governor’s support

Published February 6, 2020

A South Dakota legislative committee on Thursday unanimously approved a bill to allow industrial hemp production in the state. The proposal, which passed in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee, would legalize and regulate the growth, processing and transportation of hemp in the state. Passage would leave Idaho and Mississippi as the only states […]

Hemp producer GenCanna files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Published February 6, 2020

After a season rife with challenges, Kentucky hemp producer and CBD manufacturer GenCanna Global and its subsidiary Hemp Kentucky filed for bankruptcy protection. GenCanna’s Chapter 11 filing on Wednesday followed involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions filed in January by companies owed money by the Winchester, Kentucky-based firm: Pinnacle. Crawford Sales. Integrity/Architecture. According to the case […]

Hemp in California: State to revisit legislation allowing CBD in food, beverages

Published February 6, 2020 | By Laura Drotleff

Hemp entrepreneurs in California are optimistic that long-awaited state legislation to legalize hemp-derived CBD as an ingredient in food, beverages and cosmetics will be revived from suspension and ready for Gov. Gavin Newsom to approve by spring.