❓ A parliamentary question explores the viability of industrial hemp as a replacement crop in the Ord Irrigation Area, following a media report. The Minister acknowledges past trials and expresses cautious optimism for future potential, highlighting the need for further research and trials.
AnsweredQoN 1114Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
INDUSTRIAL HEMP - ORD IRRIGATION AREA
A recent article in The West Australian suggested that industrial hemp could be a suitable replacement for sugar cane in the Ord irrigation area. (1) Has the Department of Agriculture and Food looked at the viability of growing industrial hemp in tropical areas? (2) Is it correct that, as I understand it, previous trials of industrial hemp by the department met with mixed results in the southern half? (3) Has broadacre planting of industrial hemp in the Ord area given a high enough return and justification for Ord stage 2 being considered by the department? Hon KIM CHANCE
A recent article in The West Australian suggested that industrial hemp could be a suitable replacement for sugar cane in the Ord irrigation area. (1) Has the Department of Agriculture and Food looked at the viability of growing industrial hemp in tropical areas? (2) Is it correct that, as I understand it, previous trials of industrial hemp by the department met with mixed results in the southern half? (3) Has broadacre planting of industrial hemp in the Ord area given a high enough return and justification for Ord stage 2 being considered by the department? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
(1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(1) Has the Department of Agriculture and Food looked at the viability of growing industrial hemp in tropical areas? (2) Is it correct that, as I understand it, previous trials of industrial hemp by the department met with mixed results in the southern half? (3) Has broadacre planting of industrial hemp in the Ord area given a high enough return and justification for Ord stage 2 being considered by the department? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(2) Is it correct that, as I understand it, previous trials of industrial hemp by the department met with mixed results in the southern half? (3) Has broadacre planting of industrial hemp in the Ord area given a high enough return and justification for Ord stage 2 being considered by the department? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(3) Has broadacre planting of industrial hemp in the Ord area given a high enough return and justification for Ord stage 2 being considered by the department? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(1) Has the Department of Agriculture and Food looked at the viability of growing industrial hemp in tropical areas? (2) Is it correct that, as I understand it, previous trials of industrial hemp by the department met with mixed results in the southern half? (3) Has broadacre planting of industrial hemp in the Ord area given a high enough return and justification for Ord stage 2 being considered by the department? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(2) Is it correct that, as I understand it, previous trials of industrial hemp by the department met with mixed results in the southern half? (3) Has broadacre planting of industrial hemp in the Ord area given a high enough return and justification for Ord stage 2 being considered by the department? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(3) Has broadacre planting of industrial hemp in the Ord area given a high enough return and justification for Ord stage 2 being considered by the department? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(1) Yes, but not for some time. There were trials of hemp in the Ord irrigation area back in my predecessor’s time. (2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(2) Yes, that is correct. The results were mixed. Some were very good. The use of the term “mixed results” sometimes sends the wrong message that they were all bad, but they were not. Some were bad; some were actually very good. I have spoken to the departmental officer who was primarily responsible for those trials, and he was quite enthusiastic about the results of some of the trials in the southern area. (3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
(3) I really do not know the answer to that. I would like to think that was the case, because hemp could be one of the industrial crops that provide that industrial backbone to Ord stage 2, where we are somewhat limited in terms of the big industrial crops if sugar is not going to be a goer. I really would like to think that hemp does have a serious future in the Ord valley, and the fact that the earlier trials had limited success should not dissuade us. Indeed, I read the same article that the honourable member refers to. Mr Hough did not seem to be particularly downhearted about the poor results. He indicated that we need to trial a wide variety of seed types. I actually pay tribute to Mr Kim Hough and his company for the work that they have done in accessing genetic material, particularly from the Hunan province of China, which has, as he identified in the article, similar latitudinal and climatic conditions to the Ord valley. I am therefore very hopeful that hemp might be a success, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do in proving it up. Certainly if Mr Hough and his company seek the support of the Department of Agriculture and Food for further trials, we would be happy to entertain them.
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