Hooray for Hemp
With a beef farming background, Cathy Briant and Andrew Peart admit they have little expertise in cropping. But, they have taken on a crop that is creating a lot of interest.
Industrial hemp is an industry in its early stages in Australia. Cathy and Andrew hope they can be part of its growth.
Licensed under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act, Cathy and Andrew are licensed to grow industrial hemp that has to meet strict testing and security guidelines.
While industrial hemp has an extensive list of uses from fibres to food to building products, it has no psychoactive effect and departmental testing ensures growers meet those regulations.
When Cathy and Andrew looked at property in the Neerim area, they knew they wanted to diversify their traditional beef farming practices that they undertake on their Pakenham property.
They purchased their 125 hectare property in October 2016 with the main aim to “try a few different things.”
“We wanted to take advantage of the water here. We fell in love with it and we knew in five minutes we wanted it,” Cathy said.
Their first “project” was planting 12 hectares of poppies in the first year.
But, learning the high input costs, intense management requirements and harvesting issues, they soon crossed poppies off their list.
“We had a licence to grow poppies for three years. We didn’t like all the chemicals that were needed,” Andrew said.
So, in year two, they turned their focus to industrial hemp with the low input and low chemicals proving an attraction.
Australia’s industrial hemp industry is very much in its infancy. Even the certainty of prices and markets will be a gamble for Cathy and Andrew.
“It can be used for fibre, food, cosmetics and so many other uses. It has such a wide variety of uses.
“It’s just an exciting plant in a world when we are trying to become more natural with everything,” Cathy said.
However, industrial hemp is not marijuana and does not deliver a psychoactive effect.
While admitting some people probably think they have their “own crop” at the back door, Andrew explained the crop would not be capable of producing a marijuana high.
The crop contains little to no active compounds with Tetrahydocannabinol (THC) levels less than 0.5 per cent.
Andrew said marijuana THC levels were about 20 per cent.
“That is why the government test our crop’s THC levels and why there’s a paper trail for everything,” he said.
Starting small, they have planted two and a half hectares of hemp with six varieties imported from Canada, China, France and an Australian seed.
Their first crops were planted over various stages in November and December, all part of a trial to determine more successful growth and yield rates ahead of harvesting.
Planting to harvesting cycles are 100 to 145 days. They have been irrigating about 20 to 25mm per week.
The harvesting process is similar to harvesting wheat.
“It’s an extremely tough material, especially the outer fibre so we are not sure what obstacles we will face,” Andrew said.
Within hours of harvesting the process of drying the seed will begin.
The hemp seed can be used for oil while the hull can be used for exfoliates and soaps. Hemp fibre has been used for building and insulation.
The industry is well established in Canada, Europe and the USA. While prices and markets for the Australian industry are unknown, in Canada, yields have been about 800 kg seed per hectare.
Cathy said virtually the whole plant can be used for different bi-products.
“It’s an incredible plant which is why we were drawn to it because it has so much to offer,” she said.
Cathy and Andrew will host a field day on February 26 to share information about their hemp trial.
Their aim is to attract more people into the industry.
“It has to start somewhere so we want to share our information and try to grow it.
“We have a hell of a lot to learn but the only way to learn is by doing.
“There are a lot of intelligent farmers out there so we can learn together,” Cathy said.
The Tarago Catchment Healthy Farms Program is encouraging farmers to attend a field day on growing industrial hemp.
The field day will be held at the property of Cathy Briant and Andrew Peart.
Licensed under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act, Cathy and Andrew are licensed to grow industrial hemp that has to meet strict testing and security guidelines.
They planted six varieties of hemp in November and December at various sowing rates.
The hemp seed can be used for oil while the hull can be used for exfoliates and soaps. Hemp fibre has been used for building and insulation.
The industry is well established in Canada, Europe and the USA. While prices and markets for the Australian industry are unknown, in Canada, yields have been about 800 kg seed per hectare.
Cathy said virtually the whole plant can be used for different bi-products.
“It’s an incredible plant which is why we were drawn to it because it has so much to offer,” she said.
The field day will include an introduction to the uses and potential markets for hemp; information about legal requirements for growing hemp; and discussion of paddock preparation and irrigation.
The field day also will include a walk around the farm to inspect the trial sites.
Industrial hemp is not marijuana and does not deliver a psychoactive effect.
Bio-security procedures are in place so anyone interested in attending the field day should RSVP by Monday, February 25 to cathy.b@westnet.com.au
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