What’s a soybean grower to do? Rising production costs, increased pests and possible new diseases of plague-like proportions have many growers frustrated about growing soybeans. Growers have several options, including stick with soybeans, plant more corn or raise an entirely new crop.

Twelve years after introducing its first organic cotton blank T, Of The Earth has expanded its private-label line with the first Ts made of hemp/organic cotton and an innovative soy/organic cotton blend. The two new offerings will help OTE meet demand as U.S. companies continue to switch from conventional to natural fabrics. OTE sells the natural-fiber shirts as blanks or as finished garments with custom labels and silk screening. Now with the industry’s largest selection of natural-fiber Ts, OTE believes its private-label program will soon surpass millions of pieces annually.

“People are trying to switch to a more healthy lifestyle and to be more eco-conscious,” says Mitchell Rosenfield, who co-owns The Hempest with Jonathan Napoli. “And, once they get started living with hemp products, it gets addictive. It gives a good feeling. It’s nice to know that the fabric you spend so many hours of your life with…is natural and free of chemicals.”

Trading standards bosses are to push for the outlawing of “cannabis lollies” on sale in Leeds sweet shops.

US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: The Hemp Industries Association (HIA), representing over 200 hemp companies in North America won their 2 ½-year old lawsuit today against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a decision that permanently blocks DEA regulations that attempted to ban nutritious hemp foods such as waffles, bread, cereal, vegetarian burgers, protein powder, salad dressing and nutrition bars.