Tennessee hemp farmers are changing what they grow as restrictions on hemp-derived THC products tighten in the state and a sweeping federal ban approaches. Farmer Bill Corbin is among those pivoting toward fiber hemp, a non-intoxicating crop used for industrial purposes. His fields reflect the growing uncertainty facing farmers and businesses that built a market around hemp-derived products containing THC. Tennessee has already banned most hemp-THC products. A federal measure under consideration would go further, effectively eliminating nearly all THC products derived from hemp nationwide. The change could put much of the country’s $28 billion hemp industry at risk, including retailers, manufacturers and farmers whose businesses depend on the products. The pending federal action has left the industry looking to Congress for a possible reprieve. Lawmakers could still intervene, but businesses are preparing for the possibility that the restrictions will take effect. For Tennessee communities tied to hemp production, the shift is not simply a question of which products can remain on store shelves. It also raises concerns about whether farmers can find viable alternatives, how quickly they can change crops and what will happen to local businesses built around a market that lawmakers may soon largely close. Corbin’s move into fiber hemp illustrates one path farmers are considering as the market changes. But the future of both the crop and the businesses around it remains dependent on decisions in Washington, where the fate of hemp-derived THC products is still unsettled.