MORE than 100 farmers from across Australia have given the thumbs-up to an industrial hemp trial near Barham, which point be the way to the future.
The emerging industry is showing promising results on irrigated trial plots harvested last week as part of a Western Murray Land Improvement Group initiative.
Farmers have shown interest in the trials, attending on-site field days to learn more about the crop, while exploring future processing opportunities.
All stages of cropping industrial hemp were covered including soil structure, preparing the ground, sowing, weed and pest control, irrigation and fertiliser application.
Agri-System development co-ordinator and environmental project officer Leigh Fletcher said it was local landholder interest that initiated the 7ha trial site, with five different varieties planted.
“These fields have been driven by our cluster group of landholders to investigate hemp as a viable option for this region,” Mr Fletcher said.
He said hemp production at a local level would have many benefits.
“Hemp could change this region for the better,” Mr Fletcher said, noting it had an amazing green footprint and the potential to improve soil health as a complimentary break crop.
“The main direction for a local hemp industry is to provide product for the construction and building industry,” Mr Fletcher said.
Local farmer Graeme Nalder operates a mixed irrigated farm in the Moulamein district.
He said he was following the developments of the trial closely.
“I’m interested in the fibre production,” he said.
“It’s almost a whole new industry and the potential is quite substantial.”
His interest in industrial hemp was ignited following a trip to Tasmania, where he noticed it being used as a rotation crop.
Growing wheat, barley, legumes, rice and oats at present, Mr Nalder believes industrial hemp may have the potential to be part of his long-term rotational cropping program in the future.
Mr Nalder said he enjoyed visiting the trial site, learning more about the hemp cropping process, and would now join a Hemp Cluster Group to further investigate viability.
Mr Fletcher said Mr Nalder was one of many local landholders wanting to further explore the concept of industrial hemp.
“Presently, processing options for the crop are limited with the intent of the Hemp Cluster Group to explore the formation of a co-operative for the growing of hemp and the creation of local processing to produce value-added products,” Mr Fletcher said.
