Welcome to our March report, which includes a number of exciting developments for the industry. These include our upcoming AHC Fibre Forum, Agrifutures project reports and state reports.
The diversity of the Australian hemp crop is highlighted by the fact that planting is about to commence in the Northern Territory, soon for QLD while at the same time, harvest will be completed in Tasmania and Victoria. It seems generally yields and results have been compromised by the season and lack of knowledge this year, only with experience and sound agronomic advice will the national yields improve.
The AHC Fibre Forum will take place 14th & 15th June at Deakin University in Geelong. If you’re interested in the Australian hemp fibre industry, then you will not be disappointed, you can attend online or in person. See the following link for further details: https://australianhempcouncil.org.au/fibre-forum/
Hemp CRC steering committee We are pleased to advise that the AHC has been invited to join the Hemp CRC steering committee which will give the AHC membership a voice on considerations for industry research plans.
North American National Hemp Association The AHC was invited to attend an international meeting convened by the National Hemp Association from North America which involved a range of countries. Issues such as international law and national collaboration were discussed. Gail Stubber attended the meeting on behalf of the AHC.
State Reports
iHemp WA – Gail Stubber We would like to congratulate Iggy Van on election to the role of president for I Hemp WA. Already there have been proactive developments in the organisation with development of a new membership structure that brings iHemp WA in line with the other states. The website has been refreshed and updated, plus a strategy review mapping out plans for the next 5 years. This will be presented publicly on April 20th at a major WA event. Check out their website for further details. https://ihempwa.org/
HempGro – Western Australia’s hemp growers’ co-op is actively trying to sell its seed for both food production and for high seed rate at a very reduced price so that we they are able to import new batches for next season for potential buyers here in WA – reach out through their website for more information. https://hempgro.com.au/
Photo from Kenneth Dods – WA
The NVT Trials at Manjimup have grown well this season, showing some promising signs. In these trials they have included three different dates for sowing. There were around 45 attendees, mostly researchers. In future field days in June, the Co-op and DPIRD will be targeting growers for the event.
Northern Territory Report – Dominic Calder I met up with John Muir to discuss fibre production for building products in the NT.
We are awaiting the results of hempcrete bug food test. The outcomes may present an opportunity to test the resistance of other binding ingredients for use in hempcrete.
NT Members are stressing the importance of considering the mutual benefits for other agricultural crops and hemp, especially with cotton in the NT.
Australia’s leading conference on agricultural development in the north
The 2023 Northern Australia Food Futures Conference is taking place in Darwin, 22nd – 25th May. It is now in its 5th year since its conception in 2014, the event focuses on agriculture in the northern regions of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland, showcasing opportunities in the north.
The conference is integral in driving expansion in the north and places northern agriculture on the national agenda and is attended by investors, politicians, industry and community stakeholders from around Australia and the world to explore agricultural opportunities in the north.
The theme for the 2023 Conference is ‘Northern myths, opportunities & realities’ and over 500 delegates will enjoy a full program across the 4 days including:
Plenary sessions, Workshops and Concurrent Sessions
Over 100 speakers from industry, research, government and private sector, including successful farmers from WA, NT and Qld
Queensland Report – Lauchlan Grout The Hemp Health and Innovation took place on the 25th-26th of March at the Brisbane Convention Centre, updates regarding this event will be presented in the next newsletter.
Stanthorpe IHVT Field Day was held on 1st March at James Blundell’s property, considering the area it was grown in with all nutrients and water being trucked in, the trial was a somewhat success taking this into account. It is hoped more varieties will be included in the next round of trials with further suitable locations.
The Queensland Hemp Association AGM has been pushed back to late April. For further Information regarding the date, time and location check out our website if you haven’t received the details.
Two new corporate members joined the association, Southern Cross University and Australian Country Choice which is a positive outcome for the QHA.
Tasmania Report – Tim Schmidt The season has definitely turned here with a couple of light frosts. By the time you read this the Tasmanian harvest will be completed. It looks like yields will be well down on past years, given the seasonal difficulties experienced.
An Australian first was completed last week in Northern Tasmania where .5ha of a fibre crop was chopped as silage, which generated some fantastic data. The crop was EcoFibre’s MS-77, which did well under the seasonal circumstances and the fact it was planted so late being December 12th. The following data was collected: Metabolisable Energy ME was 10.5, Crude Protein 8.2% and Dry Matter of 29.4%.
We extrapolated that the Dry Matter yield was 5.5t/ha which by usual standard is quite low, with better ground preparation, seed establishment and earlier sowing time, this crop could have easily achieved more than double the dry matter.
Tim’s Hemp Silage
Last month we had the Industrial Hemp Variety Trials field day. In Tasmania these trials are managed by the Tasmanian Hemp Association (THA) which is supported by both the state government and AgriFutures. Jason Lynch has done a fantastic job managing the trials, which will produce some quality data for the industry.
One of the most curious features was how one of the varieties exhibited a nutritional deficiency despite the fact that it had an excess of applications. The THA held a community education day at the site where around 100 people attended, there was a lot of interest in the trials where locals were able to learn about our hemp industry. Well done to Andi Lucas, President of the THA, who organised the day.
In private trials in Tasmania, the requirement for diligent seed storage was demonstrated where .75 ha was sown with seed at 3 times the recommended rate and not one seed germinated. This seed was 5 years old, stored in a shed (not chilled), which goes to show seed vigour can deteriorate very quickly in hemp seed if not stored appropriately.
South Australia Report – Mick Andersen South Australia experienced some cooler weather during January and February which has caused some SA crops to flower 2 weeks earlier than predicted, causing an urgent call to action by the grower to desiccate the crops before they set seed. The grower is forced to transport a hemp fibre harvesting machine from WA to cut the crop within the next 10 days. A result of the growing period being cut short is the biomass yield will be lower than expected which is unfortunate.
The field day at the IHVT site at Reedy Creek was reasonably well attended with at least 3 new potential hemp growers taking interest showing positive signs for the SA hemp industry. Vircura expressed their increasing interest and are looking for more hemp growers later this year.
Hemp food sales continue to grow with Good Country Hemp products now in all Foodland and Drakes stores in SA. Good Country Hemp is also further developing their dehulling line with the installation of a colour sorter to improve efficiency and output.
IHASA will hold a special general meeting at 7pm on 12th April to discuss proposed changes to the constitution including membership fee restructuring. A notice has been emailed to a list of 38 current, past and potential members to encourage membership renewal and their attendance at the SGM.
New South Wales Report – Jaimie Milling We believe that fibre crop harvesting is occurring in NSW with the harvesting innovation developed by Gavin Hopkins and supported by Agrifutures. We haven’t heard much about this project but hope to learn more in May when Agrifutures will release a report on the project.
John Muir, Lauchlan Grout and Jaimie Milling are assisting Karen Kirkby in sourcing varieties for further work on pathogens in hemp, been conducted at Narrabri DPI research facility.
Victoria Report – Lyn Stephenson Plans are been made to conduct a pre-season workshop on cropping and agronomy for Victorian producers after the fibre forum in June, more details to come next month.
Reports have come in that most crops in Victoria are fibre trial crops and similar to Tasmania have had seasonal challenges. With a wet late planting compounded with less than ideal germination, many of the crops have not realized their full potential.
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.
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.
Dr Bronwyn Blake is a member of iHempWA and HempGro, and was an inaugural committee member for both organisations.
Bronwyn and husband, Chris, have been licensed hemp growers since 2014 and currently own and operate Vasse Valley Hemp Farm, WA’s leading hemp foods business.
An Agricultural Scientist, Bronwyn is well known within the hemp industry for her research into hemp forage for livestock and currently leads the AHC’s hemp fodder working group.
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.
Hemp Farms Australia is an Australian industrial hemp farming business. We sell hemp genetics for farmers in Australia and around the world to purchase for hemp farming, to harvest for grain (food) or fibre (clothing and building)
We currently have 45 tonnes of dual purpose Ruby available, germination 86%.
Ruby is an Australian industrial hemp cultivar bred in 1998 in Queensland, Australia. With the ability to flower onmaturity instead of day-light-length, this cultivar is very versatile and can be grown three times annually in Queensland.
Tim is president of the Australian Hemp Council and has been farming in Tasmania for the past 20 years. In 2003 the family purchased Woodlands a 350ha farm near Deloraine in Northern Tasmania. Primarily a beef trading and dairy agistment farm they also grow potatoes and hemp.
In 2016 Tim became president of the Tasmanian Hemp Association and has since advocated for the Tasmanian hemp industry. He stepped down as THA president at the AGM on 2 September 2022.
Tim also sits on the TFGA Meat Council, is a longstanding chairman of the Deloraine Landcare Group, past chairman of the Meander Valley Council NRM committee and committee member of the Meander Valley Water Users.
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.