Wide Open Agriculture Ltd (ASX:WOA) has planted the first crop of industrial hemp in its shade house at Arthur River in WA’s Wheatbelt region, the first to be grown under protected cropping conditions in Western Australia.
The company’s growing program will trial three industrial hemp varieties at its fully automated shade house to determine growth rates in winter conditions in the Wheatbelt climate.
Preparing the shade house for the crop.
Program to provide new data about winter cropping of industrial hemp
WOA managing director Ben Cole said: “This program is an exciting opportunity because the shade house will allow us to grow industrial hemp in a highly controlled environment, eliminating key climate risks and allow testing to continue throughout the year.
“Normally, open field industrial hemp production would plant in September and October, but this program will provide new data about the potential for winter cropping and year-round production.”
The company will trial regenerative inputs for the production of industrial hemp and will measure soil moisture and fertiliser regimes, as well as two innovative approaches to increase seed yields.
Cole added: “Our goal is to offer customers regeneratively grown hemp products that have been produced in healthy soil.”