December 11, 2025 • 8 mins
Don Morrison looks at hemp growing on a commercial scale in the south.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
Away to willow Bank this afternoon on the must Don
Morrison farming.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Out that way. Good afternoon.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
How we I at Indy but a great leading? Yeah,
a couple of couple of good albums from r EM
over that period. Yeah, some really good music.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Yeah, nothing nothing for you comes close to our Jefferson
starship though, am I correct?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
No? No, no, just a bit of knowledge on Jefferson
starts every I think I'd probably ride Ram above them
on my on my hit list Andy, So yeah, no
good leading.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
So how's everything looking at willow Banks?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Really good in terms of up to date with the work.
You know, we've we've been working hard those trees and
clean upsets back a bit with that winds, but the
crops are all in the what else, we don't have
a really good start to the season of Ram selling.
We just got the toper out the last couple of
days and next next week will be weaning drenching, so
(01:05):
big week. But we just feel we're working hard, but
we feel we're under control.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
So how long's weaning going to take?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Now? Weening will probably take us a week because with
all the stud sheep, we've got to wail the lambs
and so we do marves each day. We'll drink, we'll wean,
we're weigh the lambs, we'll drench, and we'll mailed us
and get them ready for sharing. So you know, we
just worked through marves at a time. We're we're actually
only going to wean the stud us and but drench
(01:32):
all the commercials and they will be weaned after new year.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So when do you hope to share.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
The sharing? We'll get all the We'll get all the
US and mals hopefully this week, so we can get
them shorn after the new year too. We'll get Cody
in and his team and yeah, get them. Sure, we've
already got all the old US away, so we've got
where we do the prep and lamb the older ewes first,
so they're gone. So it's really just you know, another
(01:59):
half of the US still to go through and another
half the number to go again.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well that simplifies everything. If you've already got the freezers gone.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Makes it really easy. Andy. We always lamb them early
in August, the lambs a bit earlier, so we've got
them weaned the good number of those lambs away at
those good prices, and those US gone too, which just
certainly always reduces the freed demand right now. Makes it
a bit easier on Cody and his team to get
(02:28):
some lap, to get some used done early before the
pressure comes on. And yeah, just weave a bit of prep.
You know. The prep starts now when we put all
these use over, we'll mail them with anything else that
needs to go will be identified, but we'll also identify
next year's one year users such at the stage and
they'll go into a mob to be prepared from here
(02:49):
on and to be made it earlier.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
There's a twelve month sharing the hell you or what's
your sharing raising?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Yeah? We all three a month sharing. So look, it's
not ideal for the wall because we generally share February March.
It's not the best for wall quality, and there's probably
a couple of months where the US have've got a
little bit much wall. But it works really good with
our wintering so that they've got enough wall but not
too much when they're on the window crops and still
(03:15):
not a long wall come lemming time with cast Us.
So we used to be an eight month sharing or
a six month sharing, but just with the wall prices
now we've gone back to that twelve months.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Well, if the wall price rebounding to a degree, would
you go back to say, six and nine months sharing?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Absolutely, it's better for the animal. You've got a better
far better monitoring of body condition, score, far better quality
of war and it's just the economics around at endy,
So we'll certainly revisit that. Yeah, I like the sixth
month and the eight months sharing.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Now, of course you've got a bit of cannabis out
there that you're growing. It sounds as a bit of
regulations come through from the government this week around the
growing of crops like this, But from your operation, how
much exactly do you put in?
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Look, we've got three and a half hector's license. We
could put up to seven thousand plants probably on that,
but we've got considerably lower it's still in these exploratory years.
I guess we're fine tuning at practices and husbandry andy.
So we've had up to five thousand plants, but we're
finding we're getting considerably better yields. If we can effectively mother,
(04:19):
if we can manicure each plant, if we can trim,
if we can manage it, we're getting considerably higher yields
to plant and a far better quality flower product. So
that's that's where we are this year.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
So there's quite a lot of labor involved with it.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
It's really labor intensive. Andy. It's like it's like having
a great big vegetable garden. We're actually planting yesterday, So
you plant every plant individually, we've double staked them, and
now we'll be monitoring each of those plants right through. Well.
I guess once we can develop some really good pathways,
which we think we're in that position now, it could
(04:59):
be a really significant regional employer because once we start
ramping up our numbers an area, then you're we're going
to need to employ a lot of people to manage
those plants and then involved in the in the harvesting
and processing of it down the track. So I think
a great opportunity for regional employment with a low fertilizer
(05:21):
regenerative crop.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
So how many staff do you have looking at the
crop at the peak of the season.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I suppose we're good a Jay who's there, one full
time partner in our cannabis operation. She comes with a
legacy knowledge, great expertise. So this is our fifth year.
We've been learning off her the whole time. But we
had five of us in the paddock planting yesterday and yeah,
so it takes a few people. But what we're using
(05:48):
is basically the resources on the farm, the cultivation, existing
farm equipment is all fine for your cultivation and prep
and then we're just using the labor force on the
farm to you know, to fill in that cannabis labor.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Just finally, as well, your time has come to an
end as being as as being part of the Alliance board.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Down meets have gone in.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
There interesting season ahead for land regarding prices.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I suppose how we and.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
They're all enjoying some really really strong red meat prices
in the in the in the ovine and the bovine space.
So you know, we want to enjoy, you want to
celebrate those prices we're getting. Look, I guess when when
you get in that space, you're always a little nervous
of what comes next. Where we're always aware of the
chance for correction. Talking to some friends in Europe, you know,
(06:38):
involved in distribution, they really see it we're not going
to get I don't think we're going to get a
correction and lamb price until we get a correction and
beef price. So given that that dynamics, I guess it's
watched that whole America space pretty closely and what's just
going to happen with their economy. Are we going to
get a little bit of a check the stock market
(07:00):
come those midterms elections next year? I see that as
probably being the next the next challenge to beef prices,
and that would possibly have a flow onder LAMB prices.
But I'm certainly not a crystal ball go They're just
using some analytics from past midterm elections over those last
ten ten election cycles in the States, and that's certainly
seen a stock market dip or crash always in that
(07:22):
midterm election second year. So yeah, just watching that space, are.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
We seeing anything in the way of TIS having a
flow on effect with beef prices?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
No, we look, it doesn't seem to I know the certainly.
I think most of the importers have passed on that
that tariff to their consumers. And that's what we're reading
when you if you want to read your American American
economy stats at the moment, that certainly the commercial public
is hurting a bit from an uplifting prices. So no,
(07:53):
price and demand is still really good for us as exporters.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Hey, good on you. How we will leave it there.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Thanks very much for your time on the muster this
year you Bridge and the family enjoy a bit of
a break.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
We'll do it all again next year.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Oh thank you, Andy, and the same to all your
great staff in there and not personally look to a
catch up and a good catch up with you, Andy,
So thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Dom Morrison farming out at Willow Bank. You're listening to
the muster filduncle from Weatherwatch. He gives us a rundown
on the southern weather for the next seven days.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
That's up next.
Away to willow Bank this afternoon on the must Don
Morrison farming.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Out that way. Good afternoon.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
How we I at Indy but a great leading? Yeah,
a couple of couple of good albums from r EM
over that period. Yeah, some really good music.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Yeah, nothing nothing for you comes close to our Jefferson
starship though, am I correct?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
No? No, no, just a bit of knowledge on Jefferson
starts every I think I'd probably ride Ram above them
on my on my hit list Andy, So yeah, no
good leading.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
So how's everything looking at willow Banks?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Really good in terms of up to date with the work.
You know, we've we've been working hard those trees and
clean upsets back a bit with that winds, but the
crops are all in the what else, we don't have
a really good start to the season of Ram selling.
We just got the toper out the last couple of
days and next next week will be weaning drenching, so
(01:05):
big week. But we just feel we're working hard, but
we feel we're under control.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
So how long's weaning going to take?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Now? Weening will probably take us a week because with
all the stud sheep, we've got to wail the lambs
and so we do marves each day. We'll drink, we'll wean,
we're weigh the lambs, we'll drench, and we'll mailed us
and get them ready for sharing. So you know, we
just worked through marves at a time. We're we're actually
only going to wean the stud us and but drench
(01:32):
all the commercials and they will be weaned after new year.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So when do you hope to share.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
The sharing? We'll get all the We'll get all the
US and mals hopefully this week, so we can get
them shorn after the new year too. We'll get Cody
in and his team and yeah, get them. Sure, we've
already got all the old US away, so we've got
where we do the prep and lamb the older ewes first,
so they're gone. So it's really just you know, another
(01:59):
half of the US still to go through and another
half the number to go again.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well that simplifies everything. If you've already got the freezers gone.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Makes it really easy. Andy. We always lamb them early
in August, the lambs a bit earlier, so we've got
them weaned the good number of those lambs away at
those good prices, and those US gone too, which just
certainly always reduces the freed demand right now. Makes it
a bit easier on Cody and his team to get
(02:28):
some lap, to get some used done early before the
pressure comes on. And yeah, just weave a bit of prep.
You know. The prep starts now when we put all
these use over, we'll mail them with anything else that
needs to go will be identified, but we'll also identify
next year's one year users such at the stage and
they'll go into a mob to be prepared from here
(02:49):
on and to be made it earlier.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
There's a twelve month sharing the hell you or what's
your sharing raising?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Yeah? We all three a month sharing. So look, it's
not ideal for the wall because we generally share February March.
It's not the best for wall quality, and there's probably
a couple of months where the US have've got a
little bit much wall. But it works really good with
our wintering so that they've got enough wall but not
too much when they're on the window crops and still
(03:15):
not a long wall come lemming time with cast Us.
So we used to be an eight month sharing or
a six month sharing, but just with the wall prices
now we've gone back to that twelve months.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Well, if the wall price rebounding to a degree, would
you go back to say, six and nine months sharing?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Absolutely, it's better for the animal. You've got a better
far better monitoring of body condition, score, far better quality
of war and it's just the economics around at endy,
So we'll certainly revisit that. Yeah, I like the sixth
month and the eight months sharing.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Now, of course you've got a bit of cannabis out
there that you're growing. It sounds as a bit of
regulations come through from the government this week around the
growing of crops like this, But from your operation, how
much exactly do you put in?
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Look, we've got three and a half hector's license. We
could put up to seven thousand plants probably on that,
but we've got considerably lower it's still in these exploratory years.
I guess we're fine tuning at practices and husbandry andy.
So we've had up to five thousand plants, but we're
finding we're getting considerably better yields. If we can effectively mother,
(04:19):
if we can manicure each plant, if we can trim,
if we can manage it, we're getting considerably higher yields
to plant and a far better quality flower product. So
that's that's where we are this year.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
So there's quite a lot of labor involved with it.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
It's really labor intensive. Andy. It's like it's like having
a great big vegetable garden. We're actually planting yesterday, So
you plant every plant individually, we've double staked them, and
now we'll be monitoring each of those plants right through. Well.
I guess once we can develop some really good pathways,
which we think we're in that position now, it could
(04:59):
be a really significant regional employer because once we start
ramping up our numbers an area, then you're we're going
to need to employ a lot of people to manage
those plants and then involved in the in the harvesting
and processing of it down the track. So I think
a great opportunity for regional employment with a low fertilizer
(05:21):
regenerative crop.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
So how many staff do you have looking at the
crop at the peak of the season.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I suppose we're good a Jay who's there, one full
time partner in our cannabis operation. She comes with a
legacy knowledge, great expertise. So this is our fifth year.
We've been learning off her the whole time. But we
had five of us in the paddock planting yesterday and yeah,
so it takes a few people. But what we're using
(05:48):
is basically the resources on the farm, the cultivation, existing
farm equipment is all fine for your cultivation and prep
and then we're just using the labor force on the
farm to you know, to fill in that cannabis labor.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Just finally, as well, your time has come to an
end as being as as being part of the Alliance board.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Down meets have gone in.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
There interesting season ahead for land regarding prices.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I suppose how we and.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
They're all enjoying some really really strong red meat prices
in the in the in the ovine and the bovine space.
So you know, we want to enjoy, you want to
celebrate those prices we're getting. Look, I guess when when
you get in that space, you're always a little nervous
of what comes next. Where we're always aware of the
chance for correction. Talking to some friends in Europe, you know,
(06:38):
involved in distribution, they really see it we're not going
to get I don't think we're going to get a
correction and lamb price until we get a correction and
beef price. So given that that dynamics, I guess it's
watched that whole America space pretty closely and what's just
going to happen with their economy. Are we going to
get a little bit of a check the stock market
(07:00):
come those midterms elections next year? I see that as
probably being the next the next challenge to beef prices,
and that would possibly have a flow onder LAMB prices.
But I'm certainly not a crystal ball go They're just
using some analytics from past midterm elections over those last
ten ten election cycles in the States, and that's certainly
seen a stock market dip or crash always in that
(07:22):
midterm election second year. So yeah, just watching that space, are.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
We seeing anything in the way of TIS having a
flow on effect with beef prices?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
No, we look, it doesn't seem to I know the certainly.
I think most of the importers have passed on that
that tariff to their consumers. And that's what we're reading
when you if you want to read your American American
economy stats at the moment, that certainly the commercial public
is hurting a bit from an uplifting prices. So no,
(07:53):
price and demand is still really good for us as exporters.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Hey, good on you. How we will leave it there.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Thanks very much for your time on the muster this
year you Bridge and the family enjoy a bit of
a break.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
We'll do it all again next year.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Oh thank you, Andy, and the same to all your
great staff in there and not personally look to a
catch up and a good catch up with you, Andy,
So thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Dom Morrison farming out at Willow Bank. You're listening to
the muster filduncle from Weatherwatch. He gives us a rundown
on the southern weather for the next seven days.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
That's up next.
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