The results of two trials on industrial hemp varieties at Manjimup in Western Australia and Kununurra have been encouraging.
Recent trials conducted over three years at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD), Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute and Frank Wise Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kununurra in WA tested 36 different varieties.
The evaluation of the varieties from Australia, Canada and China was done, evaluating various factors such as yields, protein and oil content, and THC. CFX-2 (Canada), Bialobrzeskie (Poland), ECO-Excalibur (Australia) and Henola were amongst the most productive and high content varieties of the 17 that were tested on the Manjimup farm.
It didn’t seem that sowing time had much of an impact on the performance. This suggests that a window for planting is from November to December.
19 different industrial hemp varieties have been tested in Kununurra during the winter and dry seasons at various sowing times. Bama Han cold King Gee from China and Yuma were the best performing varieties. However, in terms of protein content, Bundy Gem from Australia, Futura-75 from France, and Rajan from Poland were the best performers; with an average of 26.6 per cent protein content in the grain for each.
Planting in May is ideal because it has less risk for plant establishment. Late-maturing types will produce the highest yields when planted at low density. said Kununurra research scientist Rhys Flynn.
AgriFutures Australia and DPIRD conducted a joint research project to help growers select industrial hemp varieties that are best suited for their operation.
Industrial hemp production in Western Australia Industrial Hemp Act, 2004 regulates the use of hemp for fibre, food and seed. Hemp seed has a high nutritional value for food. It is particularly rich in polyunsaturated fats and protein.
In WA, as elsewhere in Australia the production of therapeutic cannabinoids from industrial hemp, that is classified under the medicinal cannabis category, is prohibited, because it is licensed by the Australian Government via the Office of Drug Control.
In WA, the Industrial Hemp Registrar issues licenses. Only industrial hemp plants with a THC content less than 0.5% can be used by licensees. The resulting plants must have a THC level of less than 0.5%.