The government has introduced significant reforms to the industrial hemp licensing system to bolster the agricultural sector and encourage more farmers to cultivate hemp. These reforms, which were developed in collaboration with growers, include permitting hemp cultivation across any part of a licensed farm, extending the licence duration from three to six years, and offering licences with a deferred start date of up to one year. Set to be implemented in the 2025 growing season, these changes aim to integrate industrial hemp more seamlessly into crop rotations by recognizing it as a field-grown agricultural crop. This move comes as the industry sees a substantial increase in interest, with the number of hemp licences rising from six in 2013 to 136 in 2023, indicating a promising growth trajectory for the sector.