Australian Primary Hemp prepares to harvest country’s largest hemp production

By Shane Fowles
Source: geelongadvertiser.com.au


James Hood says APH had tripled its cropping program in the past year.

A GEELONG-BASED firm is preparing to harvest Australia’s largest hemp production.

Newtown company, Australian Primary Hemp, has worked with more than 10 farmers to produce the country’s largest haul, with more than 700 hectares of hemp to be harvested in the first 2018 crops.

The legal creation of the hemp food industry last November had provided farmers with a profitable new cropping alternative, APH director James Hood said.

Mr Hood said the company had tripled its cropping program in the past year to try and keep up with demand for hemp food products.

“Since the legislation change, we have seen people’s interest in Australian-grown hemp soar and the demand for Australian products increase significantly,” he said.

‘Not only in the domestic market but internationally as well.”

Western District farmer Simon Allen was effusive about the summer rotational crop, which will be processed in APH’s Geelong facility.

“Hemp has been a great crop to grow, its short cropping cycle has made it easy to integrate into my current cropping program.”

This year’s hemp crops will be used to expand APH’s product line to include hulled hemp seeds, a hemp protein fibre blend, protein powder and traditional hemp oil.