Welcome to our April report. On the surface it looks quiet in the industry, but there is a lot of work happening behind the scenes.
AHC Fibre Forum Preparations for the Fibre Forum are coming along well with a great range of speakers confirmed ready to shed light onto the Australian fibre industry. The response has been great with bookings coming in thick and fast.
Remember all AHC state association members are eligible for a discount when registering for the forum.
AgriFutures Recently the AHC assisted AgriFutures again in collating and reviewing an industry report due for release next month which covers market opportunities in emerging industries including hemp.
Also, AgriFutures has released a report which includes links to the various variety trial reports for those who are interested you can find it on the AgriFutures website: www.agrifutures.com.au
Monthly market report The AHC is on the lookout for a volunteer as author of the AHC monthly market report. This entails collating overseas and local information on prices and trends of hemp industry products, such as seed and fibre in its various forms. I believe whoever takes this on would find it a most fascinating exercise and may well establish themselves as a national authority on Australian hemp markets. For anyone interested please email info@australianhempcouncil.org.au.
AHC Subcommittees In further development of the AHC structure, we will be launching this month the AHC Food, Fibre and Fodder groups. These organisations are open to any interested stakeholders and will have a 3 – 5 member executive that will be tasked with policy development for their respective industry areas, in particular review and promotion of appropriate federal legislation supported by a well laid out business plan. This is all part of an overall 4-year plan to bring about national legislative change to open the Australian hemp industry opportunities to Australian hemp farmers and processors. These organisations will be led by the following individuals:
AHC Fibre Group – Jaimie Milling (NSW) AHC Food Group – Mick Anderson (SA) AHC Fodder Group – Dr Bronwyn Blake (WA)
If you are interested in any of these areas and would like to contribute, for an invitation and further details email info@australianhempcouncil.org.au.
AHC State Monthly Reports
New South Wales – Jamie Milling There has been a little bit of excitement in the hemp space in the recent weeks in NSW with a second variety trial planted at the Sydney Uni Research Station at Narrabri in early April. This involved the planting of up to 12 different hemp varieties to help further the development of sound strain knowledge for our regions. The first variety trial was heavily impacted by extreme temperatures in early December 2022. Jamie reached out to Guy Roth for an update, with all varieties planted having germinated and out of the ground.
Harvesting has commenced at Hillston of approximately 200 ha of dual-purpose biomass crop. In the Wentworth area a grower has approximately 30-40 ha’s of dual-purpose King Gee close to harvesting. They are hoping to achieve 12 tons of biomass per ha and around 750kg’s of seed from the crop. This crop was planted in early October 2022 on flood irrigation using approximately 10 megalitres of water/ha.
The same grower apparently lost 5 ha’s of seed crop to birds just recently stripping the crop down in 2 days.
Northern Territory – Dominic Calder The NT has had the first IHVT planting for the season go in at the Katherine Research Station so more information of the outcomes will follow in the coming months. The Food Futures Conference in Darwin in late May will be graced to have Bronwyn Blake presenting her research topic. The NT has also had some new grower interest which is a positive sign for industry here.
Queensland – Lauchlan Grout Queensland has experienced a very wet month throughout March and the beginning of April with the majority of the FNQ hemp crops for both grain and fibre production having their sowing dates pushed back.
Current projects involving processing plants for biochar and biomass are progressing well throughout Queensland with further updates being delivered at the upcoming Queensland Hemp Association Annual General Meeting.
The QHA have entered discussions with our contacts at the local Department of Agriculture and Fisheries regarding the approval for hemp feed for livestock, i.e. whole plant, processed plant material, grain and or processed grain products. We received clear direction and have put together a strategic plan for approval.
The QHA have circulated the upcoming Annual General Meeting agenda and have received a great amount of RSVP’s from government, industry, company members and individuals. We look forward to seeing our members in person and meeting new parties eager to get involved in the hemp industry here in Queensland.
THA – Tim Schmidt Pretty quiet in Tassie at the moment. Harvest is completed and yields were quite marginal. Yet to learn of results on fibre harvests, although they were adversely affected by flooding earlier in the season.
We have had fresh inquiry for supply of new season product recently which is encouraging. We continue to keep in touch with the state growth department on the state legislative review.
South Australia – Mick Andersen – IHASA SA has had some Hemp biomass crops cut, and some have been baled early. The recent rainfall has helped the retting process and delayed the baling of some of the crops. The yields of one paddock are much higher than we expected (around 8.3 tonnes/ha) suggesting the season has been favourable for hemp this year, with other thicker crops likely to yield over 12 tonnes/ha in comparison.
The IHASA Special General Meeting took place 12th April to amend the constitution with a three-tier membership now in place: Corporate ($500), Associate ($200), General ($50).
Nicola Centofanti MLC, the shadow minister for Agriculture visited Good Country Hemp and was very willing to help with any legislative changes required in SA parliament. Local member for McKillop Nick McBride MLC also visited and was excited for the potential growth of the hemp industry in SA, which is good to see the politicians backing this industry and coming to the table.
Thanks for reading and if you’re not already subscribed, join now to stay up to date with any new information regarding hemp around Australia.
From everyone at the AHC, thanks again and see you next month.
Iggy is the Chairperson of iHempWA and founder and CEO of Hemp Squared, manufacturer of hempcrete building materials.
His extensive management and leadership knowledge, skills and experience in a variety of industries, contribute to the development of the hemp industry.
He believes that credible research, collaborating and sharing information with others is key to making the industrial hemp industry a success and a true alternative to current common materials and practices in Australia and globally.
Hemp Farms Australia is an industrial hemp farming business. With our base of operations in Queensland, HFA focuses on mainland Australia, providing high quality reliable and registered industrial cannabis seed suited for grain or fibre production.
Tim was the recipient of the 2019 Ronald Badman Family, Churchill Fellowship to further develop expertise in the cultivation, manufacturing, science and policy of industrial hemp.
He has travelled through more than 10 countries to understand the global industry and where Australia is best suited to capitalise on the future growth. He is also Managing Director of Hemp Harvests, who manufacture a range of hemp seed ingredients that are supplied into the food, cosmetics, and livestock industries.
Tim has also served on the Tasmanian Hemp Association board since 2019, and continues to liaise with industry and government to help foster the local industry.
Available now: 1.3 tonne of both Fibror 79 and Orion 33 Special price $4.00 plus transport.
The seed was imported in 2021 and has been stored well. Germination tests rate above 65%. Seed is also clean of treatments and so can be used for animal meal and human consumption.
Lauchlan is president and co-founder of the Queensland Hemp Association.
Since 2013, he has been contributing to Australia’s industrial hemp industry from seed to shelf, with improved crop success nationally.
He is focussed on developing successful hemp cultivars as the foundation for a successful hemp industry
Mick Andersen is the founder and owner of Good Country Hemp Pty. Ltd, a hemp foods processing facility based in Bordertown, South Australia. Good Country Hemp contract hemp growers directly, primarily in SA, and have processing lines for cold pressed hemp seed oil and hulled hemp seed, marketed online and through supermarket and health food stores.They also supply bulk hemp food products.
A qualified agricultural engineer, Mick started in the hemp industry in early 2018 after running an agricultural shed construction business for 25 years.
In 2019 Mick visited France and Germany looking at hemp crop varieties and seed processing equipment, and has travelled extensively both in Australia and around worldwide in his previous agricultural roles.
As part of our service, we provide full support on low THC varietal selection and breeding targets. Our years of experience in hybrid breeding is the key factor that translates to our clients’ success. Our great understanding and expertise and experience in varietal selection and adaptability to different latitudes helps to reduce risk of crop failure and save huge upfront costs to growers.
Hemp is arguably one of the most important superfoods in the world, with hemp seeds providing us with an invaluable source of protein, essential fatty acids and Omega 3 & 6 plus much more. Hemp has long been used as a food source and it is vital we reintroduce this back into our diets.
Hemp is able to replace the modern diet’s inflammatory fatty acids with the prefect balance of essential fatty acids bringing our system into balance.
Research has shown that to improve cardiovascular health we need to lower blood pressure, raise HDL cholesterol and reduce triglyceride levels.
Hemp seed and hemp oil in our food can contribute directly to these health gains.
Hemp has modest water requirements when growing, producing a fibre which is strong and long lasting as well as mould and bacteria resistant.
Hemp is said to sequester four times as much carbon as a standard pine forest and grows much quicker. Carbon is above all the most important and effective factor on plant growth and life and hemp rapidly stores carbon into the soil increasing the soil productivity.
Hemp is also a bioaccumulator and can be used for phytoremediation by extracting heavy metals and other toxins from contaminated soils.
Hemp has over 25,000 uses and hemp plastics are becoming a popular alternative to our global issue of plastic pollution.
Agriculture
Australian farmers are within grasp of one of the greatest opportunities in Australian agriculture if our government could relax restrictions on ‘whole of plant’ use. Hemp is an emerging crop that ticks many boxes.
It’s a crop that can be grown in all parts of Australia.
It’s a low input crop that benefits the soil structure and biota
It has rapidly emerging innovative markets for its many applications.
It is a superior carbon sequestrator
It is a versatile crop that can be wholly utilised, thus spreading market risk.
If you’re an Australian farmer looking to improve your land and grow a highly sustainable crop or just want to learn how to grow hemp, then follow our newsletter and stay up to date with all current hemp news and updates across Australia.
LEAWOOD HEMP RELEASES SEED SUPPLY FOR START UP GROWERS
CULTIVATION PLANTING SEED AVAILABLE NOW FOR THIS SEASON
AVAILABLE PLANTING SEED:
· ANKA
· CRS-1
· CFX
· FROG
· FERIMON
· FEDORA 17
· FIBROR 79
· USO 31
· FUTURA-75
· INDIAN
Our Top 5 Cultivars have been developed without genetic modification to grow and thrive in most regions of Australia.
Currently available:
ECO-MS77 is a robust dual-purpose diecious variety of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) bred for a longer internode length than ‘ECO-CHG’, high vegetative force, great capability of adaptation, greater TSW (30 – 32g) and very low cannabinoid (THC and other cannabinoids) content. This variety bred in Australia using a recurrent selection method and is suited to a wide range of latitude (5 – 53) for fiber production.
ECO-Excalibur is a diecious and relatively early maturity industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) variety suited for grain production in mid – high latitudes. This high-yielding variety matures in 100 to 115 days. This variety was bred using population breeding-recurrent selection method to pyramid higher grain yield and shorter maturity window. This is a female predominant variety with an occasional occurrence of monoecious plants.
ECO-CHY is a grain variety of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) bred in Australia for higher seed yield and low THC content that is suited for production in sub-tropical environments. This variety has desired traits for commercial grain yield in sub-tropical environments. It’s unique canopy structure allows commercial farming of this variety at lower planting density and is suitable for row cropping.
Currently unavailable: ECO-CHG, a late dioecious fibre variety suited for fiber production. ECO-CHA, a dual-purpose variety.
For further information visit our website or contact Adam Cantwell: adam@ecofibre.com
Forum Use Policy
This Forum has been created to facilitate the sharing of information concerning Hemp Agronomy.
It is available to invited members only and all information shared belongs to the members of the forum.
The information shared is deemed to be for the benefit of developing the national Hemp Industry in Australia.
Any conflicts of interest or concerns for privacy should be identified to ensure that participants can interact freely.
Jaimie Milling is a fourth-generation farmer who has been in the agriculture industry all his life. He has a Farm Business Management Degree and for 35-years he has owned and managed large broad acre mixed farm operations across NSW. Jaimie also has extensive experience in the agriculture industry both domestically and internationally, having worked in Africa, UK and Europe, as well as in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
He is the co-founder of Canna Hemp Care Pty Ltd, one of the larger hemp growers in NSW, with commercial crops of 20-to-200 hectares. They have strong existing relationships with hemp food and fibre processors and markets both nationally and overseas, and heavily involved in hemp fibre crop growing, marketing and processing.
Midlands Seed is one of Australia’s top agricultural producers of specialty seeds and food ingredients. With world-leading quality as our benchmark, our latitude, temperate climate, pristine air quality, soil types, availability of irrigation, and grower expertise allows us to produce superior products.
Midlands provides bulk supply of premium Hemp Seed for Sowing for planting. As an established company producing a wide variety of arable foods, we are proud of the quality of our bulk supply Hemp Seed for Sowing we deliver to farmers and businesses.