SITTING in the heart of the Meander Valley is Woodlands Farm and the Schmidt family, who are at the forefront of the ever-growing hemp industry in Tasmania.
Spread across 350ha in Red Hills is the mixed-enterprise farm now in its third generation. The lush grass and rich soils grows grass and vegetables at a healthy rate but it is the hemp grown on the property that may well come to define this generation on Woodlands Farm. It was 10 years after Tim and Pip Schmidt purchased the property from Pip’s parents that they grew their first hemp seed crop. Though it was only after admittedly “varied successes” in trialling different crops that hemp made its way on to the farm.
“I had a go at poppies but the land is far to wet for those so after one go I never tried that again,” Mr Schmidt said. “It’s beautiful soil but it holds the water a little too well after a rain.” Tim first crossed paths with hemp growing after learning about a field day while reading Tasmanian Country. “The potatoes had really been taking everything from the soil and I was on the lookout for something that put nutrients back. “I was also looking for alternate crops that we could grow here as our cropping ground was subject to waterlogging in the winter. “Hemp fitted in nicely.”
Today Tim sits as chairman of the Tasmanian Hemp Association and is a member of the Australian Hemp Council. He has grown between 10-15ha of hemp on the property ever since, signifying his clear passion for the crop and the burgeoning Tasmanian hemp industry. “The more you learn about hemp the more interesting it is. “There’s so much to the industry and it’s going to be massive for Tasmania.” The passion for hemp that seemingly runs in the blood has propagated through their family business, The Tassie Hemp Shop.
When hemp as a food source was legalised in 2017 the scope was changed for the crops. Crops that were previously grown for larger processors were kept on-farm and their market-based storefront was born selling products derived from hemp seed. Started in 2019 and run by Tim with his eldest daughter, Kate, and her partner, Ben, the business is quickly establishing itself as a go-to at local produce markets.
Visit their online store or at the Farmgate Market or Harvest Market Launceston and you’ll see hemp flour, seeds, oil, balms and even hemp beer. Pip runs the behind-the-scenes aspect of the business while the youngest daughter of the Schmidt clan, Isabel, runs the online marketing.
Currently Tim is undertaking work with the Australian Hemp Council to the attitude towards the hemp industry in Australia. “A cannabis plant with a high level of THC is marijuana and everyone knows what marijuana is,” he says. “We should be able to make the distinction clear that everything else is hemp.” While hemp continues to be a passion-driven direction for the family, Woodlands still operates a significant beef operation. From a stock that usually sits around 450-head in winter (and more in the warmer weather) comes the core of the Woodland operation Angus heifers are bought in to graze on the lush greenery before they’re put to calf with local bull studs.
From there they are typically sold to mainland buyers. Pasture rejuvenation is important to the Woodlands operation where once again hemp comes in to play. “We still predominantly grow potatoes in the soil on a five-year rotation where hemp follows the crops to get the soil back to top shape. “Then it’s three years into pasture for the cattle.”
Tim said a major advantage of growing hemp in a cover-crop capacity was its growth time. “We plant in November and harvest in March so it’s typically a crop that is in the ground for 100-120 days. “We know people who can get a harvest of hemp and a harvest of peas from a paddock in a single season. “That they’re put to calf with local bull studs. From there they are typically sold to mainland buyers.
Pasture rejuvenation is important to the Woodlands operation where once again hemp comes in to play. “We still predominantly grow potatoes in the soil on a five-year rotation where hemp follows the crops to get the soil back to top shape. “Then it’s three years into pasture for the cattle.”
Tim said a major advantage of growing hemp in a cover-crop capacity was its growth time. “We plant in November and harvest in March so it’s typically a crop that is in the ground for 100-120 days. “We know people who can get a harvest of hemp and a harvest of peas from a paddock in a single season. “That is why it’s such an attractive crop to grow.”