Less than 2 weeks until our fibre forum at Deakin University in Geelong. Amongst the range of great presentations, there are organisations showing the way to industry having already grown and harvested material ready to process for waiting markets. Our forum will be opened by Emma Germano, president of the Victorian Farmers Federation. Click on the link above for further details. Before the forum: Those attending the forum are welcome to join our AHC open meeting on Tuesday 13th at 3.30pm. This will be held in the same rooms as the forum at Deakin University Waurn Ponds Campus. This will be followed by an informal dinner around 6pm at the Waurn Ponds Hotel.
After the forum: On Friday following the forum, John Muir and Bob Doyle will be holding a pre-season Growers Day event at Bunjil Farm near Kyneton. They will present the latest agronomic and harvesting information on hemp production. Tickets for this event are available for $165 through Trybooking. A 10% discount applies for members of Regenerative Hemp Victoria. This is your opportunity to increase your knowledge while networking with other growers and sharing information.
Action in Victoria Great news!! Rachel Payne introduced a motion to the Victorian parliament on 31st May, calling for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Victorian industrial hemp industry.
Lyn Stephenson from Regenerative Hemp Victoria (member of the AHC), was there to express our support for this action. The motion was passed unopposed. With the closing down of the native forestry timber industry, there now seems to be an opportunity for the hemp industry develop as an industry substitute.
At our last council meeting, vice president Gail Stubber stood down as representative of Western Australia, Dr Bronwyn Blake has taken over Gail’s role, endorsed by both iHemp WA and the Council. We would like to thank Gail for contributing so much to the Council on behalf of WA, having done a marvellous job for the industry. In addition to taking on the role of WA representative, Bronwyn is also chair for the AHC fodder group, which has already had its first meeting. (see below).
AHC Fodder Group Our first meeting was held 17th of May. Our group had 9 attendees and the executive now includes: Bronwyn Blake WA (Chair), Megan McKenzie VIC, Ken Dods WA, Randeep Sing NSW and Selena Sylvester NSW. There is a great depth of knowledge on hemp within this group and all members share the same desire in positive outcomes for the hemp industry. Our objective is to advance knowledge, provide reliable information, and support the Australian Hemp Council’s mission to promote the effective use of hemp as a sustainable and beneficial animal feed and supplement source.
To that end we will be:
discussing and reporting on animal feed – including forage, by-products, seed and supplements – processing and regulatory developments to the AHC
Providing guidance on and insights for AHC policy development in support of the Australian industrial hemp industry.
Documenting a business case on this aspect of the industry including estimates on industry investment, growth and returns over the next 10 years.
Contributing suggestions and assisting in proactive actions relating to government policy development including formulation of national legislation relating to the livestock fodder and supplement industry.
We are exploring fodder for ruminants, companion and performance animals, poultry & swine, aquaculture.
Regulators meeting The state regulators met at Hempfields Farm in northern NSW on May 22nd. The objective was to see how a working hemp farm operated. Andrew Kavasilas and Arthur Wajs both gave an outline of the operation at Hempfields. The AHC supports Andrew’s submission to FSANZ for the cultivation and sale of hemp shoots as food. A most positive outcome of the exercise was a later meeting with the Office of Drug Control where the communication lines are improving.
Hemp CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) As a member of the CRC steering committee, the AHC has been contributing to the CRC review of the research modules as part of the CRC funding bid. The titles include: Hemp Health, Hemp Material, Hemp Futures and Hemp Production. It is a credit to the CRC team as to the quality of the work they have carried out in compacting complex concepts into brief succinct blocks. Success of this bid will mean an investment of $200M into Australian hemp research which invariably help Australia become leaders in global hemp technology and production. We ask that in whatever way you can, express your support for this very worthy initiative to government and community.
Agrifutures
IHVT (Industrial Hemp Variety Trials) The IHVT varieties are close to been finalised for the coming season and there are a range of new and interesting varieties to be trialled. Once finalised, we shall list the varieties for your information.
Australian Industrial Hemp Program of Research (AIHPR) The AHC has been assisting with the AIHPR which constitutes a $2,500,000 AgriFutures investment allocated across four themes over five years (2023-2028). Guided by the Australian Industrial Hemp Strategic RD&E plan (2022-2027), to which the AHC made significant contributions, the AIHPR will deliver research into: Theme_1. hemp seeds and varieties Theme_2. hemp primary production Theme_3. hemp products Theme_4. and aspects of hemp sustainability The projects will soon be signed off and further details made available by Agrifutures.
Innovation Immersion Tour Agrifutures are sponsoring around 16 Australian agriculturalists for travel to the US in the last 2 weeks of June. This tour includes attendance to Salinas Biological Summit in California, visits to Iowa and Kentucky, touring agricultural operations and meeting with local farmers. I’m happy to say that the hemp industry has representation on this tour with a focus on ferreting out anything to do with hemp in the US.
Australian Company Directors Course Another initiative of Agrifutures is to sponsor individuals in completing the Australian Companies Directors Course. Again, I can say that the hemp industry stakeholders, including numerous AHC members are currently participating in the course.
State Reports
Western Australia – Bronwyn Blake – iHemp WA 20th April a National Cannabis Open Day was held in Fremantle, supporting the state’s hemp industry. A growers pre-season meeting is been held in Bunbury Friday 23rd June and Albany Saturday 24th June. For further information contact iHemp WA through their website – https://ihempwa.org/
Northern Territory – Dominic Calder – NT Farmers Induni Vijaya Kumar from the NT Dept of Industry Tourism and Trade presented on part of the Best Management Practices Guide (BMP) project covering ‘Insects and pest disease in hemp’ at the NT Food Future Conference on May 23. Induni is a contributor to the AHC managed BMP project. The Northern Australia Agrifutures IHVT field days will be held in Katherine Monday 19th June and Kununaurra Wednesday 21st June. Registration is required, for further information contact Dominic at NT Farmers.
New South Wales – Jaimie Milling – iHemp NSW Parts of NSW have had heavy frosts this last week. It will be interesting if the frosts have damaged any hemp crops in the ground at the moment, although the variety trials at the Sydney University Research Station Narrabri have not been affected.
Record biomass only and dual -purpose stubble and grain harvesting has just been completed in the Riverina on hundreds of Ha’s with average yields up to 16t/ha under pivots and also on flood irrigation in places – this has exceeded our conservative normally budgeted commercial average yields of 10-12 t by at least 25%.
There will be a regenerative hemp workshop at Casino (northern NSW) in July, further information contact iHemp NSW.
Queensland – Lauchlan Grout – Queensland Hemp Association
Queensland Hemp Association held its annual AGM. We had a small attendance but set the year’s agenda and objectives in place with funding options being explored.
One main objective is to join the Queensland Farmers Federation, with this we can access a large span of farmers, processors and distributors from all commodity industries. We will act as the hemp arm to this, a voice and education arm for these groups.
QHA will be updating our website to include informative news and links to Australian projects being reported on so follow it closely – https://qldhempassociation.com.au/.
Tim Schmidt – Tasmania – Tasmanian Hemp Association We are still working on our Tasmanian hemp food media program, originally social media only, we now may have some TV advertising in regional Victoria and Tasmania. There are still significant quantities of seed stored in Tasmania, which is slowly moving out of the state for processing. At the moment there’s not a great incentive to increase growing areas this coming year. Consumer sales are continuing to grow, so long term hemp food industry viability remains strong. There are plans in the state to trial further innovations in broad acre production aim at production without the use of chemical sprays – https://tasmanianhempassociation.org.au/
South Australia – Mick Andersen – Industrial Hemp Association South Australia We had a special general meeting where a motion for a three-tier membership system was passed. This brings us in line with other state hemp organisations. Harvesting is complete with fibre crops. 3 paddocks, 8 tonne per hectare and other paddock 4-5 tonne per hectare. The results were a bit disappointing for the grower contracted at $400 per tonne. We will be planting for dry land hemp to give it a go next season – https://ihasa.org.au/
Victoria – Lyn Stephenson – Regenerative Hemp Victoria
Along with Tim Schmidt we had a meeting with Rachel Payne, Legislative Council MP from the Victorian Parliament to brief her on the hemp industry in Victoria. Ms Payne’s motion was debated in Parliament on 31 May and the motion was passed unanimously. Primarily, the motion was to establish an inquiry into the Victorian hemp industry with a view to understanding the economic viability and how the industry can be supported. This is a major step in the right direction! Prior to the debate, a media conference was held which Lyn attended, alongside Ms Payne and two other industry participants (Mark Smith and Brett Boag). The success of this motion means we will need to prepare detailed submissions once they are called for during the process. This will require input and support from stakeholders within the Victorian hemp industry, especially since some of the MPs who spoke against the motion are actually on the assessment Committee. Anyone wanting a copy of the Motion should contact Lyn directly.
Regenerative Hemp member, Matt Box, announced successful production of 115 tons of clean, dry building hurd now available at his company’s processing facility in Pakenham.
On May 16th, Tim and Lyn participated in an Industrial Hemp Fibre Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) Workshop, as part of the Gippsland Smart Specialisation Strategy (GS3), Food & Fibre Gippsland (F&FG) in partnership with the Latrobe Valley Authority (LVA). Most attendees had a very limited knowledge of the hemp industry in Victoria, despite the fact that Matt Box had been actively growing and processing hemp close by. It was encouraging to see organisations are actively seeking information on the hemp industry.
On May 21st Lyn travelled to Warragul to participate in a panel discussion at a community forum entitled “Trees, plants and sustaining life’s necessities”.
On May 29th Lyn attended (via Zoom) the Agrifutures Emerging Industries again reviewing the viability of the industry and how it can be supported. A link to the recorded presentation can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tfXOA5FUqk
The AHC is a voluntary organisation supported by lots of individuals determined to support the successful establishment of an Australian hemp industry. The more members we have, the more we can achieve.
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.