This article written by Lisa Flower appeared on iHemp NSW on
Hemp and Cotton – the full article can be found here: ihempnsw.org.au/field-event-2024
The inaugural two day, iHempNSW Regional Field Event Trip on 11-12 September was an exceptional opportunity to network, learn and collaborate across industries.
Sixteen iHemp NSW members and friends found their way to Narrabri – some driving from across the Queensland border and other making their way from southern areas.
Day one – The Annual Narrabri Field Day
Hosted by Guy Roth, Director of Northern Agriculture from the Sydney Institute of Agriculture, the field trip included a walk into a flourishing hemp crop trials.
The dual-purpose varietal, ‘Ruby,’ showed impressive results in cover cropping comparisons, highlighting the potential of winter dry-land hemp in the Northwest Plains of NSW. The Ruby trials have demonstrated a proof of concept for early planting, offering exciting opportunities for central and northwestern NSW.
The event sparked great interest from farmers, academics, students, and agronomists, as well as potential growers from other states. Additionally, the focus on carbon and the traceability of Australian natural fibres, highlighted by Adam Kay, CEO of Cotton Australia, showed the value of transparent supply chains across industries.
iHemp NSW guests and leading agronomist, John Muir shared the enthusiasm.
“Ruby was perfect for the June sowing at that latitude of 30 S, which had commenced male budding/flowering in early September and female flowering mid-September,” he said. “This will ensure it misses the last frost and allows sufficient winter spring, south Australian normal mediterranean rainfall to fill and finish the grain into November, just like a normal winter crop.”
He added that he and fellow agronomist Rob Eccles, estimated the hemp had as much DM of around 4.5 t ha, equalling the best of the winter crops sown for regenerative ag- cover crop- mulch/crimping prior to a summer crop.
Meeting at the Moree Golf carpark, Jaimie Milling collected the group in a minibus and drove west to Keytah. Covering 65,000 acres, Keytah is a large scale, B Corp certified, sustainable cropping operation, nestled between the Gwydir and Mehi rivers, on a parcel of rich alluvial land.
‘Keytah’ was purchased by Sundown Pastoral Company (SPC) in 1984 and has grown into one of the largest cotton producing properties in Australia, producing up to 78,000 bales a year at a rate of 7 to 15 bales to the hectare.
The Principals and Managing Directors of SPC, David and Danielle Statham were exceptional hosts. You can read more about the Statham’s background here.
The iHemp NSW group were taken into Keytah’s office auditorium for an initial series of presentation.
Danielle explained how she disrupted the global cotton supply chain with the Fibre Trace supply chain traceability technology & integrated software platform. Fibre Trace technology vertically integrates their cotton from “seed to shelf” providing integrity and verification throughout the entire cotton supply chain. You can read more about Fibre Trace in the fashion industry here.
The group latter had a firsthand demonstration of the technology in operation. Gin Manager, Mike Murray, who also helped develop the technology, explained the process of blending the fibre technology with the cotton lint.
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