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Soil Preparation
The surest way to have good germination is to have the soil prepared (tilled) so there is very good seed to soil contact. Hemp has very little vigour as a seedling so limit compaction as far as possible.
Seed Selection
Select the seed variety to fit the purpose. Grain varieties will not grow much biomass, and biomass varieties will not grow much grain, so pick the variety that best suits your market. Also note that the hurd from grain varieties is generally of a lower quality compared with fibre varieties, hence the market price for the straw will also be less.
Germination percentages are essential to know so be sure to get a germination test result when making your seed purchase.
For consistent hurd quality we recommend that you have the seed graded by size and sow the smaller size separately from the larger size.
Planting Rate
Get expert advice to set the optimal space between plants. This will vary depending on variety and chosen crop type. Note that hemp has an auto toxicity factor and slower developing plants may be choked or killed off due to close proximity to stronger plants.
Seeds sown at a consistent depth will give you the best chance of uniform growth and optimal results. Having the soil well prepared and irrigated are prerequisites for success.
The choice and application of any fertiliser must be based on a soil test together with advice from an experienced agronomist.
As a guide, hemp initially requires a similar nutrient profile as a Maize crop.
An agronomist can also advise on the best timing for both fertiliser and chemical applications. Note that fertiliser and chemical requirements may well change (reduce) with subsequent plantings so a soil test should be done each year. Crop yields can be expected to improve with experience.
Calculating water requirements is a challenge and is likely to become more so with anticipated changes to our climate. That said, we need to make provision for dry conditions to make the best out of the crop.
Soil moisture as well as temperature at sowing are significant. A soil moisture probe will help you decide how much to pre-irrigate. Be aware that the germination and early establishment phase are most vulnerable to over irrigating. Close monitoring is required during the first 6 weeks or so.
Managing what may be a scarce water resource is critical and requires that irrigation equipment is well maintained and operated at maximum efficiency.
Opportunity costs identify alternative returns on the assets deployed. This is important to get an accurate assessment of the profit margin attributable to the hemp crop. If you are unsure what to include, please check with your accountant.
Links to documents and other resources
Forum Policy
Version 1.0 | Effective: June 2026 | Applies to all forum participants
The AHC Growers Forum exists for one purpose: to help Australian industrial hemp growers learn from each other. These rules exist to keep it that way. They are not about restricting conversation, they are about making sure the forum stays useful, respectful, and focused for everyone who participates.
1. Who These Rules Apply To
These rules apply to everyone who participates in the AHC Growers Forum, including:
By creating an account and participating in the forum, you agree to follow these rules. If you do not agree, please do not participate.
2. The Rules
There are seven rules. They are written to be straightforward. If you are ever unsure whether something is allowed, ask a moderator before posting.
Rule 1: No abuse, harassment, or personal attacks.
Disagree with someone? That is fine. Attack them personally? That is not. This includes name-calling, threats, targeting someone’s business or reputation without evidence, and any form of discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or any other characteristic. Severe violations of this rule may result in an immediate ban without prior warning.
Rule 2: Stay on topic.
This forum is specifically for industrial hemp cultivation, harvesting, processing, seed, fibre, regulations, and related practical topics. Posts about medicinal cannabis, recreational cannabis, or unrelated agricultural topics will be removed. If you are not sure whether your topic is relevant, check with a moderator first.
Rule 3: Keep it respectful.
You do not have to agree with everyone, but you do have to be civil. Sarcasm, condescension, and deliberate provocation are not welcome here even when they stop short of a personal attack. If you would not say it to someone’s face at a field day, do not post it here.
Rule 4: No spam or self-promotion without context.
Sharing your business, product, or service is allowed if it is relevant and adds value to the discussion. Posting purely to advertise especially repeatedly is spam and will be removed. This includes unsolicited links, affiliate content, and promotional material dressed up as advice.
Rule 5: Post in the right place.
Use the correct category or topic thread for your post. If a topic thread already exists for your question, add to it rather than creating a duplicate. Off-topic posts will be moved or removed by moderators. If you are unsure where to post, use the General Discussion category.
Rule 6: Do not spread misinformation.
Industrial hemp regulation, agronomy, and market information can be complex and changes frequently. If you are sharing information about regulations, chemical use, THC thresholds, licensing, or market conditions, make sure it is accurate and current. If you are not sure, say so. Moderators may remove posts that contain information that is demonstrably incorrect or likely to mislead other growers.
Rule 7: No illegal content.
Do not post content that is illegal under Australian law, including content that relates to unlicensed cultivation, exceeding THC thresholds, or activities that fall outside the industrial hemp licensing framework. This includes asking for advice on how to circumvent regulations. Violations of this rule will result in an immediate permanent ban and may be referred to the relevant authority.
3. What Happens If You Break a Rule
The AHC Growers Forum uses a three-strike system. Strikes are tracked per account and do not reset unless stated below.
| Strike | What Happens | Detail | Reset? |
| Strike 1 | Formal Warning | Your post or comment is removed. You receive a private warning from a moderator explaining which rule was broken and why the content was removed. | Yes — after 6 months of clean posting |
| Strike 2 | 7-Day Suspension | You are suspended from posting for 7 days. Your account remains active and you can still read the forum. A second warning is issued. | Yes — after 12 months of clean posting |
| Strike 3 | Permanent Ban | Your account is permanently removed from the forum. This decision is made by a moderator and reviewed by the AHC. You will be notified by email. | No |
Note: Some rule violations are serious enough to skip straight to a permanent ban. These are: severe personal abuse or threats (Rule 2), posting illegal content (Rule 7), or creating a second account to evade a previous ban.
How strikes are counted
A strike is issued each time a rule violation is confirmed by a moderator. Multiple violations in the same post count as one strike unless they involve Rules 2 or 7. Strikes are attached to your account, not to individual posts.
Appealing a moderation decision
If you believe a moderator has made an error, you can request a review. To do so:
Appeals do not pause a suspension. A suspended user cannot post while the appeal is under review.
4. What Moderators Can Do
Moderators are appointed by the AHC. They are here to keep the forum functional, not to police opinion. The table below sets out what moderators can do and when.
| Moderator Action | When It Applies |
| Remove a post or comment | Any content that breaks the rules below, even without a prior strike. |
| Issue a formal warning | First violation – Strike 1 is recorded and the user is notified privately. |
| Edit a post title | Titles that are misleading, off-topic, or include prohibited content, where the post body is otherwise acceptable. |
| Lock a thread | A thread that has become unproductive, abusive, or significantly off-topic. |
| Issue a temporary suspension | Second violation – strike 2 is recorded and the user is suspended for 7 days. |
| Permanently ban a user | Third violation, or a single instance of severe conduct (see Rule 2 and Rule 7). |
| Refer to AHC for review | Any decision where the moderator is uncertain, or where a user has disputed a moderation decision. |
Moderators will not:
If you have a concern about moderator conduct, contact the AHC directly.
5. Expert Contributors
The AHC may invite industry experts to participate in the forum and respond to posts. These contributors, including Rob Eccles, provide general support and practical input based on their experience.
Expert contributor responses are general in nature. They are not a substitute for professional agronomic, legal, or regulatory advice. The AHC and its contributors accept no liability for decisions made on the basis of forum posts.
Expert contributors are subject to the same rules as all other participants.
6. Your Posts & Content
When you post in the forum, you keep ownership of what you write. By posting, you give the AHC a non-exclusive licence to display and archive your content within the forum platform.
Do not post content that belongs to someone else without their permission, this includes copying articles, research papers, or other published material in full. Sharing a link with a brief summary is fine.
The AHC reserves the right to archive or remove content from the forum at any time, including when the forum is wound down or restructured.
7. Privacy
Do not share another person’s personal information on the forum without their consent this includes contact details, location, or business information that is not already publicly available.
8. Changes to These Rules
The AHC may update these rules from time to time. When a change is made:
Continued use of the forum after a rule change takes effect means you accept the updated rules.
9. Contact & Reporting
If you see a post that breaks these rules, use the report function within the forum platform. If that is not available, contact the AHC directly
Contact: info@australianhempcouncil.org.au
For moderation appeals, account issues, or questions about these rules, contact the AHC through the contact details as above.
Complete your profile by going to My Profile> Account. There you can update your personal information, add a photo under Avatar –
Once you’re done, go ahead and submit your topics or contribute to existing topics.
Any feedback or suggestions regarding the Forum structure or process most welcome.
If you have any difficulties or further questions please email me: bernard.thomson@australianhempcouncil.org.au.