FARMERS interested in adding industrial hemp to their crop rotations are invited to attend a local field day at the end of January.

The Industrial Hemp Variety Trial (IHVT) field day to be held in Hamilton on January 30, 2024 is the culmination of a three-year research project to determine best performing varieties and sowing times for each growing region.

Hamilton is one of nine sites across the country that make up the AgriFutures Australia national IHVT program, which aims to provide growers with independent information about the performance of dual-purpose (grain and fibre) industrial hemp varieties suited to specific geographic locations within Australia.

South Australian hemp processor, Mick Andersen, said the upcoming field day was a perfect opportunity for cereal and grain growers, agronomists and others interested in the industrial hemp industry to learn about crop requirements, yields and varietal selection.

“There is nothing like walking through a hemp crop as part of a field day and having a good look at it, smelling it and feeling it because when you can see it for real, you can imagine it on your own farm,” he said.

“Now hemp growers have runs on the board in the industry, other farmers are more reassured to have a crack at it themselves.” 

Mr Andersen and his wife Linda operate Good Country Hemp, a business that partners with local farmers to grow and produce premium quality hemp foods such as cold-pressed hemp seed oil, hulled hemp seed and protein powder.

“We look at quite a few attributes of a variety when we assess them for profitability,” he said.

“The IHVT is very important for us to ascertain not only which varieties to grow in our region but also the best regions to source our seed.”

As part of the IHVT program, more than 10 different varieties of hemp sourced from international suppliers including Canada, France, Poland and local Australian suppliers are evaluated.

IHVT national coordinator, Mark Skewes, of the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) said the event would include a field walk where participants can view the condition of the different varieties and a presentation of results.

“Field day visitors will be able to see how the trial crop is growing, and the differences between the varieties and sowing times ahead of harvest,” he said.

“There will also be an optional agronomy training workshop, hosted by AgriFutures IHVT agronomist, John Muir. These sessions will be of particular interest to agronomists and growers who are seeking more in-depth information about how to grow industrial hemp.”

AgriFutures Australia Emerging Industries Program senior manager, Dr Olivia Reynolds, said the field day aimed to bring together farmers, processors, food retailers and commercial investors to learn more about industrial hemp and the diverse opportunities it offers Australian agriculture.

“The global industrial hemp market is projected to reach $18.6 billion by 2027,” she said.

“This is a huge opportunity for Australian agriculture to produce an environmentally sustainable, multi-purpose crop that can be used for everything from food to building materials.”

Following on from the IHVT program, AgriFutures Australia is funding a $2.5 million Industrial Hemp Program of Research to assist with the growth of the industry.

Industrial hemp can only be grown under state or territory government permits, and while it contains very low tetrahydrocannabinol content (THC) industrial hemp is high in protein and healthy essential fatty acids.

Since 2017 it has been legal to sell industrial hemp seed for human consumption.

The need for the IHVT was identified in the Australian Industrial Hemp Strategic RD&E Plan (2022-2027) developed by AgriFutures Australia, which sets out a clear pathway to grow the industry.

The Plan has five major objectives, covering seed and varieties, growing the crop, products produced from the crop, the sustainability of hemp, and the regulatory environment.

The AgriFutures Australia IHVT Field Day will be held at the Hamilton Smart Farm at 915 Mt Napier Rd on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, from 10am to 12pm, and includes a light lunch.

The optional extra Agronomy workshop will run from 12.30-2pm with AgriFutures IHVT agronomist, John Muir.

Register at bit.ly/HTFDay24

For more information on field day times, locations and events at other regions around Australia, visit agrifutures.com.au/rural-industries/industrial-hemp