INVERMAY REJECTS GROWING HEMP

Hemp is too hot to handle, according to Invermay's Crop and Food scientists.

Trials of the crop have been run around the country and Lincoln
University-based scientist Steve Cutler had been considering enlisting Crop and
Food scientists at the Taieri research facility to extend his trials of hemp
cultivars this summer.

However, Invermay Crop and Food research leader Dr Bruce Smallfield said
yesterday growing trial crops on Invermay land would risk unwanted attention.

"Because of the security issue, we won't be looking at it," Dr Smallfield said.

Despite the low level of the euphoria-inducing agent THC in hemp, there was
still an association with illegal cannabis crops in the minds of some, he said.

"We are interested in new crops but in this area there's a broader picture."

Hemp did have interesting properties; specifically, its ability to produce the
nutritionally important omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.