Yesterday we covered how Hemp Resource, and Australian-based is both lobbying to legalize hemp in Australia and working with the Chinese government to see how well hemp can be adapted to a tropical environment. Well, after posting the story, we sent them some word of encouragement, and their Managing Director and CEO, Kim Hough, got back to us with the following update on their Chinese crop:

The hemp is approximately 70 days old and was in excess of 3 metres at that time and has continued to excel since. With seed set at about 75-80% now, the harvesters will be working hard as of next week.

My understanding was that a hemp crop needed 110 days to mature, which would give them another 40 days before their harvesters would have to get to work, but I guess hemp grows differently in tropical climates. In any case, it’ll be interesting too see what the Hemp Resource team learns from this project.

Kim also sent me these photos of some of the folks involved in the project. Just click on them to enlarge.

An Australian based firm, Hemp Resources, is preparing to harvest its first crop of industrial hemp grown in China. Although industrial hemp is already gown in China, the purpose of these trials is to determine how the plant copes in the country’s tropical regions. So far, the crop seems to be doing just fine. As The West Australian reports:

The Ord irrigation region has produced a variety of crops in its 45-year history, but few have attracted as much interest [...] as current trials of Chinese hemp. 

Reaching 2m, the industrial crop was planted in June by Perth-based Hemp Resources to test its performance in the tropical region. 
[...]
Hemp Resources got permission last year from the State Government to import 70 million hemp seeds from China and has begun trials in Kununurra and the South-West. 
  
Mr [Kim] Hough [managing director] said the growth of the southern Chinese variety, known as Yunma Four, on a Department of Agriculture and Food site had been impressive. 
  
The crop was due to be cut and the seed harvested in about two weeks. Depending on final results, more widespread plantings are planned in the region next year.
[...]
Industrial hemp crops are controlled under State legislation, with police and specially appointed inspectors able to enter and inspect properties, examine seed, plants or crops and remove them for testing. 

Although industrial hemp is already grown in China, and valued for its food potential, it’s consumption is prohibited in Australia. Hemp resources, however, is lobbying to change Australian hemp laws.