Export Hay Innovation: a discussion with Malcolm May

Episode Highlights:Founded in 1990 in Balaklava, Balco was created to fill a community need for economic development and an operational need for streamlining within the export hay industry.The company has experienced continuous growth, starting from selling grain for leaf grain, before moving into hay pressing, and now makes and purchases hay for export from its site in Bowman and three other states.The investment into research and development means that hay is now grown better, compressed more efficiently, and loaded faster.There is now greater precision in the industry, as farmers increasingly focus on the business aspects, such as gross margins and profitability.A key benefit of the hay industry is the added income for dryland farmers; cash flow from hay sales typically arrives in October and November, providing an earlier financial boost ahead of grain harvests in December.Innovation in the industry hinges on maintaining farmer engagement in the developmental process and continuously refreshing practices, ensuring farmers remain confident in the industry's future.The industry has opportunities to revise bale dimensions and enable on-farm packing, thereby reducing the costs associated with mixing and high-density compression for export.The Exporters Association has helped exporters work together more closely towards common goals and innovation in the industry over the last decade, and has a strong commitment to continue these efforts into the future. To export hay economically, it must be compressed in the country of origin, and as the market adopts high-density balers and crimping techniques for faster drying, the hay industry is being taken to the next level.