Industrial hemp production trials in Tasmania

Recent changes in legislation in the Australian State of Tasmania in addition to changes in Australian Federal law has seen a renewed interest in the production of grain hemp for human consumption in Tasmania. For grain hemp to become established in the high-input high-output rotational cropping systems in northern Tasmania production efficiencies are required to generate attractive gross margins. While research on agronomy is also needed, this study evaluated the adaptation of both known dual purpose grain cultivars and land races from other regions of the globe. Fifteen lines were planted on three occasions; 25^th November and 9^th December 2016, and 2 January 2017 at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Vegetable Research Facility. Lines were primarily evaluated against estimated gross yield, the coefficient of variation in yield, plant height and harvest index. Of these lines, EC1300254, ECO_NEXT218, ECO_NEXT202, EC1300159 and ECO_NEXT222 all demonstrated significant potential to consistently provide gross yields above 2 t/ha, perhaps as high 8 t/ha in the cool temperate climate of Tasmania.