Southern Medicinal managing director Greg Marshall checks out the young hemp plants being grown hydroponically at the former Mataura Paper Mill. PHOTO: SANDY EGGLESTONGrowing therapeutic hemp could be a "home run" for Southland farmers, Southern Medicinal managing director Greg Marshall says. Mr Marshall said trials showed hemp was a good crop to plant in wet areas of farms and could be part of farmers’ riparian planting plans. "It sucks up nutrients, it becomes a barrier to stop nitrate flowing into the waterways, it sucks up carbon ... it reduces pollution," Mr Marshall said. At present, hemp plants growing hydroponically at the mill would be used to propagate seedlings, Mr Marshall said.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 06, 2021 19:07 UTC