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Winter Dryland Hemp Trials Steal the Show

By John Muir, Agronomist | August 2025 The  iHemp NSW Field Trip on September 11, 2024, visited the University of Sydney’s Narrabri Research Station and a cotton farm in Moree as part of the annual winter crop field day. Among the many crops on display, hemp emerged as a standout feature for the 300 guests in both field observations and presentations. Included in one of Narrabri’s many alternate winter species dryland cover crop projects, hemp had been sown in addition to the AgriFutures summer sown irrigated crop variety trials. Traditionally a summer crop, hemp often struggles to establish in high air/soil summer temperatures. Recognising this, Professor Guy Roth, Director of Northern Agriculture from the Sydney Institute of Agriculture, extended sowing dates into winter – and the results were surprising.As part of the broader winter green manure /cover cropping program preceding dryland summer cotton, the trial featured a mix of cereals, brassicas, legumes, and hemp. All crops were sown no-till, into 5 tonnes per hectare of wheat stubble on June 22. Around three months later, on September 11 – following a frosty winter – the field day showcased an unexpected standout leader: hemp. By 60 days after sowing, the HFA Ruby variety had reached mid-flowering, stood approximately 0.75 meters tall, and had achieved an estimated biomass of 3 tonnes per hectare. Hemp’s frost tolerance in its vegetative stage proved advantageous. As long as flowering occurs after the winter frost, hemp can fill and finish, just like a winter crops, into spring and completing grain fill before the hot, dry summer sets in. The trial yielded over 500 kg/ha of grain, despite a significant portion of seed shattering prior to harvest. Like canola, hemp is indeterminate and tends to have uneven maturity, making timely harvest critical. Even with some losses, at a market price of $3,000 per tonne, the return equated to approximately $1,500/ha. This result is just the beginning. With further improvements in genetics, agronomy, and environmental understanding, the potential for winter-sown hemp in southern Australia is immense. And new trials are already in this year including dryland winter commercial crops in NSW to South Australia. Further Information: For additional insights, refer to the April 2024 extract of a presentation at Australian Industrial Hemp Conference, written by John Muir, Polish breeder of Henola and Don Telfer DPIRD WA, and AgriFutures Knowledge Hub.

Building, Education, Growers, Manufacturers, News, Newsletter, Rural Supplies

Hemp & the power of perseverance

Written by Connie Minos | August 2025 EO, iHemp NSW | Director, Ashford Hemp Industries The picture (left) may resonate with many of our readers who have experienced drought and hardship on the land.  In 2020, Lonnie and I went to the aid of a farmer friend who needed cattle put down due to ongoing drought.  It was a traumatic time.  On one of our heart wrenching visits, two of the cows unable to stand, showed signs of being close to calving.  After euthanising the cows, Lonnie quickly proceeded to remove the unborn calves.  One of the two calves born on the side of a dry dam next to her deceased mother, survived.  With low expectations after such a difficult welcome to life we took the calf home.  It wasn’t smooth sailing but after 8 months we ended up relocating the calf (Marmalade) to my brothers’ cattle farm near Yetman as her size and zest for life were becoming a bit much for me to manage as her surrogate mother.  My daughter Olivia and I just visited my brother and we checked on Marmalade and her third calf, both in pristine condition. Olivia is 19 now.  She was 15 when Marmalade was born.  She was two when Lonnie and I first entered the hemp industry in 2008.  Seventeen years ago. Marmalade is a reminder to me that even in the toughest of situations good things do happen, and it is worth persevering.  This has certainly been our experience in the Australian hemp industry.  Disappointingly Lonnie and I were unable to attend the Hemp Connect Forum in June.  It’s always a wonderful opportunity to engage with others passionate about hemp, whether we’ve known them for years or we become newly acquainted.  Thankfully we were able to watch the presentations online and I encourage others who were unable to attend the conference to review them.  For those who aren’t familiar with our business, our hemp processor is located in northwest NSW, close to the QLD border. The ingenious, beautiful, award-winning design of the University of Tasmanian Forestry and Timberyards redevelopment is inspirational to all, and we feel a strong sense of pride in knowing the hurd produced for that build came from a hemp processing machine we built and supplied to X-Hemp. The beautiful images and positive comments received from builders and homeowners after supplying over fifty homes and buildings throughout NSW and beyond encourage our continued perseverance in supplying the hemp building industry.  The regular and diverse range of alternative product options for bast, fines and hurd, who we send samples, give us hope for the future of the wider hemp industry. A small number of business owners within NSW and Australia continue to promote products from overseas while declaring their interest in promoting the Australian hemp industry.  Frustration from this fact is counteracted by the increasing engagement and action taken by the private sector and the government in the Australian Hemp Industry. As a member of iHemp NSW and the Australian Hemp Fibre Processing group, and as a small business in NSW, we have every intention of being in this industry for years to come.

Building, Manufacturers, News, Newsletter, Processors

Understanding Health Hazards in Hemp Processing

By Dr Maggie Davidson MAIOH, Senior Lecturer, Environmental Health & Occupation Hygiene, School of Science, Western Sydney University. Farming is one of the most hazardous jobs. Farmers often live where they work, so there’s little time for rest — especially for their lungs. While accidents are common, long-term health risks from dust, noise, and chemicals often get overlooked. In hemp processing, dust and noise are big issues. But we still know very little about how much dust and noise are actually produced, or which tasks cause the most exposure. This information is important because it helps us find better ways to protect processors, farmers and workers and prevent serious health problems. Organic dust from hemp can cause serious lung issues. Inhaling a lot of dust can lead to: Airway irritation and allergies Byssinosis (“Monday morning fever”) Farmers’ lung (hypersensitivity pneumonitis) Chronic bronchitis What We Did From January to March 2025, we visited hemp processors to observe the work environment and measure dust and noise levels. We took dust samples from the air around workers during different jobs like loading machines, bagging products, cleaning, and maintenance. Dust particles we measured were tiny — less than one-tenth the width of a human hair — meaning they can easily reach deep into the lungs. Key Findings Dust levels peaked at 1.0 to 3.0 mg/m³ during dry sweeping and using air blowers. Loading hammer mills and decorticators produced 0.5 to 1.0 mg/m³ of dust. Safe Work Australia sets the exposure limit at 1.0 mg/m³ over an 8-hour shift. So, sweeping and blowing created dangerous levels. Some dust contained respirable silica, which can cause severe lung disease. Levels reached up to 0.045 mg/m³, close to the legal limit of 0.05 mg/m³. Biggest Risk Areas Loading hammer mills and decorticators Cleaning dust filtration systems Using blowers and dry sweeping What Needs to Change To protect workers: Stop using blowers and dry sweeping immediately — they create the most dust. Use wet cleaning methods and HEPA H-Class vacuums (AS/NZS 60335.2.69 standard). Apply the Hierarchy of Controls: Eliminate/Substitute: Only buy clean, quality hemp with no mould, dust, or contamination. Engineering/Isolation: Install barriers and dust extraction systems to trap dust before it spreads. Administrative Controls: Schedule regular cleaning and machine maintenance. Ban sweeping and air blowers. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Supply and train workers to properly use Class 2 or 3 respirators, fitted and tested for the right protection. Where to Find Help Safe Work Australia has excellent free resources: Managing Work Health and Safety Risks Managing Hazardous Chemicals Preventing Hearing Loss at Work What’s Next We are working with hemp processors to develop dust and noise management plans. We’ll revisit them in 2025–2026 to see how improvements are going and share updates at industry events later in 2025. Thank You A huge thanks to the farmers, businesses, and partners who welcomed us. Special thanks to the AIOH Foundation and Western Sydney University for funding this important work.    

Building, News

Hemp Building Directory

Thinking about building with hemp? A good place to start is the Hemp Building Directory! Launched in July 2023 as a social enterprise, the Hemp Building Directory (HBD) connects people keen to build with hemp with the professionals who can make it happen. From designers and suppliers to builders and installers. Whether you’re looking to live in a hempcrete home, design one, or help build it, HBD is your go-to resource. Founded by tech savvy Jeremy Thomas and award-winning designer Kirstie Wulf, the directory is proving invaluable for those passionate about sustainability, performance building, and locking carbon into our built environment. HBD is highly active in the hemp building industry online and at live events. Jeremy and Kirstie regularly attend, speak at and document events, functions and conferences such as Building Smarter, Sydney Build and monthly People Plant Pint. HBD is proudly sponsoring the Hemp-Connect Forum in Melbourne, 25-27 June.   If you’re part of the iHemp community, the next step is simple: Head to hempbuilding.au for practical info, inspiring projects, and expert connections. And don’t forget to sign up for the monthly newsletter. It lands on the first Friday of every month, packed with the latest in hemp construction. If you’re in the industry get your free listing first before we connect about becoming a member and supporting our work.  Let’s grow the hemp building movement together.

Building, Growers, News, Newsletter, Rural Supplies

Navigating Challenges in Hemp Farming

By Connie Minos, iHemp NSW Executive Officer Director, Ashford Hemp Industries.  What a wet month we’ve had impacting on so many of us. It’s been a relief to hear that many farmers have been able to get their hemp crops harvested and off the field. I’m sure there are many others who weren’t so lucky. Over the last few months, I have spoken to a number of farmers either experienced in growing hemp or just considering hemp as an alternative crop option for soil regeneration and income diversification. For several years Ashford Hemp Industries have had challenges in meeting hurd orders due to a limited, quality supply of retted hemp. Thankfully this turned around for us over the past year and our production line has been working steadily. While the increase in the number of people growing, or wanting to grow hemp, is an encouraging sign in this industry, it does not come without a warning. While those of us in the know clearly understand the benefits of building with hemp, the harsh reality is there is a slump in the building industry and hemp building has not avoided costly delays and a reduction in new builds. To avoid damaging our hemp farming industry we must ensure that there is a clear understanding of where the market is at before choosing to take on hemp growing, which is neither cheap nor easy. Ideally, we can build up our farming network in coordination with processing facilities across the state, while simultaneously developing the building industry to ensure the quality of hemp is maintained, and that the supply chain keeps moving to the benefit of all players. As always, effective communication is the key, and accessing the supports available through iHemp NSW and other sources is a great place to start.

Easter Show Stand
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Success with Hemp at the 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show

By Colin Steddy, Hemp Inside This year, I had the great privilege of joining Happy Soils (Andrew Meseha), Hexcore, and Why Not Consulting at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, thanks to an invitation from Duncan Kendall and the team at the Woolworths Discovery Centre. We bumped in on April 9, ready for gates to open on the 10th, and the energy was electric from day one — in fact, it was the biggest opening-day crowd in the show’s history. The Discovery Dome display stood out for all the right reasons. The entire fit-out — walls, tables, chairs, and cabinets — was crafted from ply board and furniture made by Hexcore using hemp materials. Hemp Gallery supplied beautiful hemp-made items, and I brought along hempcrete bricks, weed matting, samples of hurd and fibre, and hemp seed oil for sale. It was an honour to represent Hemp Inside and the broader Australian hemp industry. Public interest in hemp was strong and genuine. People came eager to share what they knew and to learn more — from curious newcomers to returning visitors tracking industry progress. Many asked, “Can I grow hemp on my land?” My answer was consistent: “We need to develop more markets and attract more investment to grow demand. Once that happens, we’ll be looking for more growers.” Andrew, Anastasia, their baby, and I were there every day — and yes, standing and talking non-stop for nearly two weeks was exhausting! But the support we received made it worthwhile. Visitors were enthusiastic, firemen stopped to see our display (including a video of the Hexcore house being tested in fire conditions), and Happy Soils customers shared encouraging results and plans to expand their use of the products. Media coverage? Disappointingly, not a single photo. But meaningful conversations made up for it — including promising follow-ups and exciting developments in the pipeline for Hexcore. I also had a valuable hour-long call with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, where I shared views on key obstacles holding back the industry: We must collaborate to build a strong, sustainable industry. The shift from the Office of Drug Control to the Department of Agriculture would unlock growth. It would create the policy certainty needed to attract serious investment. Right now, the perception that regulations could change overnight by the narcotics division scares off potential backers. Encouragingly, DPI is calling for industry submissions to help shape a stronger future. I urge everyone to contribute. One of the best compliments came from other exhibitors, who said the energy from our display was inspiring. Andrew’s love of music and fun made for a lively space — we even had a few dance moments with the crowd. The positivity was contagious. We bumped out on April 23 — a long stint on our feet, but a truly worthwhile experience. Big thanks to the Royal Agricultural Society, Duncan Kendall and his team, and our amazing crew: Andrew, Anastasia, Why Not Consulting, and Happy Soils. Let’s keep pushing forward. Cheers,Colin SteddyHemp Inside     Hemp at the 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show Gallery

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An Industrial Hemp Hub for NSW Central West

YOUR INVITED TO A Meeting to discuss the formation of an Industrial Hemp Hub for the NSW Central West  When: Friday 22 November (11:00am and finish around 3:00pm) Where: WSU Transition Hub (corner of Mort & Bridge Streets, Lithgow) What: a two-part meeting to discuss:  what an Industrial Hemp Hub is and would do in the region (11:00-12:30pm)  an overview and feedback on known opportunities and interests in the Lithgow and Central Western Region (1:30-3:00pm).As part of the workshop, participants will visit the Lithgow Women’s Shed, a beautiful hempcrete build in progress. Background Who suggested this meeting? John Muir is working with Ken Dodds as part of a new CRC-P (Cooperative Research Centre) funded by the Federal Government and REVOX (a private company with links to Melbourne University). They are looking at recycling materials to mix with hemp and identify ‘hubs’ within regional rural communities with enough like-minded individuals, who would be willing to share resources and experience to create working supply chains that grow and supply a range of industrial hemp products. Why Lithgow? Lithgow is now home to one of the larger public buildings constructed with hempcrete. It’s s a region where local government is highly focused on regional development (including agriculture) as the area transitions away from coal. This makes it potentially eligible for transition funding once the State Government releases its program of Transition Authorities for regions like ours. Lithgow Transition Hub (Western Sydney University) A series of workshops will be hosted in Lithgow in February as part of an academic research program aimed at generated a ‘social-license’ for growing and manufacturing products from industrial hemp. That program will be led by Prof Neil Perry (WSU) with Prof Louise Crabtree (WSU), Dr Stephen Heally (WSU) and Dr Michelle Zeibots (UTS). This November meeting is being approached as an opportunity to scope the content, structure and discussion points for the more detailed workshops in February. If you would like to attend, please contact: Dr Michelle Zeibots MPIA CILT Senior Lecturer (Transport) School of Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology University of Technology Sydney M. 0408 437 687 PO Box 123 Broadway NSW 2007 Australia

Three men standing
Education, Manufacturers, News, Newsletter, Processors

My Amazing Visit to China – By Colin Steddy

My Amazing Visit to China 4 -16 October 2024 By Colin Steddy – Hemp Inside Access to seed I flew to Xiamen and was driven to Zhangpu, to catchup with Mr Xu and his father Rong Long from ZHANGPU ZHONGLONG KENAF SEEDS CO, LTD. I first imported seed from Xu in 2017 after my visit in 2016 and have kept close contact since. We have formed a strong relationship. Working together with ideas on how to do more than just seed. China can now get permits to grow in most parts of China. The THC must be below 0.35 unless you have a breeding licence. Mr Xu has a breeding program with a government centre in China, paid for by Xu, looking at hybrid hemp seed production. For me, it was an interesting site visit because: we are talking new varieties of hemp the breeding program is looking at 4 tonnes per ha, so hemp can compete with soy. Currently there is a world shortage of hemp seed for food and planting seed. I am hearing reports of low yields and low germination across the world. ZHANGPU ZHONGLONG KENAF SEEDS CO, LTD has potential to produce eight hundred tonnes of planting seed for export around the world. Hunter Valley Hemp Seed & Grain, a new enterprise with Bob and Susan Doyle and myself. We will be growing the Chinese varieties in early 2025 for planting in the 2025 September season. We will also export. Please contact me for information. Details below. Research needed New research needs to be done on the flowering and pollen drop with dioicous varieties. With the findings that seed from around the world is having issues with low seed germination and bad vigour. We thought this was to do with heat and temperature; there is more to learn about the flowering times especially in diecious varieties. Mr Xu and I have been working on a seed testing protocol. When male pollen falls, are the females ready and what are the weather conditions? Is it cold and wet are the day length short? This looks like the results at Hamilton in Victoria for the long season varieties. Because of cold short days there was little seed produced exactly as I have been suggesting. Long season seed crops should be grown in the north then moved south for fibre and biomass production. Could this also be a result of germination rates falling quickly and low plant vigour? We are looking for the collection of flowering and weather conditions in relation to germination rate drop and low seed vigour. I would like our researchers to look at this. Exploring seed testing protocols We are looking at building new seed testing protocols on how to monitor what might happen with seed longevity. The hemp industry in Australia needs to keep all data from planting and fertiliser inputs and timing. What triggers THC spikes? Why do seeds loose germination? Fibre quality, planting density (plants per m2) and fertilise can have an enormous impact. Let alone how the machinery and retting occur. Know the spec from the end user? In the north of Australia long season varieties continually get higher grain yields. South European, and some Australian varieties do better than in the hot north. How you move the varieties in latitude will give you a different outcome, seed size, yield, or biomass. This also happens in China just south to north. See AgriFutures hemp trial results from all sites in Australia. The one thing that has not been calculated in the result is grain yield/price and biomass price. As a grower we need to know the total income from a crop. You can work this out yourself. Find the yields of biomass and seed and give them a value on current market. I work on $2.65 for grain and $3.50 for biomass as the stalk is less value than just a biomass crop. Currently in China there is a large demand for hemp fibre and China is sourcing fibre from every corner of the world. Is your fibre going into textiles, insulation, weed matting or paper? Each end product requires different specs and price. How much hurd can be in the fibre? Or is it a whole stalk product? My visit to a textile mill I visited a textile mill in Shanghai (CPL) that want to purchase textile fibre from Australia; the mill makes clothing, with hemp blended with other fibres. Lisa was my interpreter and looked after me. Their demand is growing, and they could be looking for up to 10,000 tonnes! Once again, I was treated like a king and taken to dinner and sightseeing to Xitang, an old Chinese town. Usually it is very crowed, but it was raining and was thankfully incredibly quiet. The market was a maze of thin walkways with shops selling food and a vast array of items big and small. It was very beautiful. This mill has a contact living in South Australia. His name is Yao Yang, and he kindly organised my visit. I wanted to see the fibre quality they need so I can help Australian growers and processors meet the specifications. Today there is a massive shortage of textile hemp fibre – how long it will last, we do not know. I introduced them to Mr Xu, my friend in Zhangpu. Unlike Australia, the industry in China is large and they were not familiar with each other. Along with Lisa, my interpreter, Mr Chunlei Hou and Professor Fan, a polymer academic took me to lunch. They were very warm and friendly. Before we drove to the mill, we discussed growing the right fibre, retting and what spec they need. They have some samples from Australia that need to have less hurd – below 10% is ok. The only mill I know that is close to their spec is Gary Rogers in WA and Bob and Susan Doyles’ that needs a few modifications to clean the fibre and the dust extraction.

Education, Growers, News, Newsletter, Research, Rural Supplies, Seed Supplies

Murray Industrial Hemp Launches Seed Funding Opportunity

Murray Industrial Hemp Launches Seed Funding Opportunity  October 10th, 2024 Murray Industrial Hemp P/L (MIH), an innovative leader in sustainable hemp cultivation and industrial building products, is excited to announce the launch of its Seed Funding Investment Memorandum. This investment opportunity marks a significant step in the MIH journey to expand its operations and enhance its impact in the rapidly growing industrial hemp market. MIH is inviting strategic investors to join its mission to transform the industrial hemp industry by participating in its seed funding round. The funds raised will be allocated to building business infrastructure, covering initial startup operational expenses, expanding a strong grower network, advancing a seed breeding program, partnering with an industry-leading carbon accounting firm and driving market growth. Key Investment Highlights: • Sustainable Agriculture Focus: MIH is committed to developing a strong grower base through innovative hemp production techniques that support sustainable agriculture. • Growth Potential: With a strong network of strategic partnerships, including collaborations with established local and overseas hemp companies, and research institutions, MIH is well-positioned to scale rapidly in a sector experiencing exponential growth. • Community-Centric Approach: MIH is dedicated to providing long-term benefits to local communities through job creation and environmentally sustainable practices. “We are at the forefront of a transformative moment in the hemp industry, providing opportunities to shorten the value chain by focusing on delivering sustainable building products,” said Project Lead Leigh Fletcher, of Murray Industrial Hemp P/L. “This seed funding round will accelerate our growth and innovation efforts, allowing us to expand operations, develop advanced hemp technologies, and explore new markets.” Prospective investors can access the condensed Investment Memorandum here or contact Leigh Fletcher of the MIH Investment Team info@murrayindustrialhemp.com.au or call 0429 144 743.

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