The Evolving Hay Market: a discussion with Pat Guerin (Bonus Episode)

Episode Highlights:Each export company in Australia has its own procurement matrix, lacking a single industry standard.R&D priority is shifting to focus more deliberately on the animal performance contribution value.There are ironies in the industry: breeding for some desired stem sizes can be counterproductive for animal performance, even when buyers are accustomed to a those sizes, for example.Due to these complexities, RD&EE (Research, Development, Education, and Extension) are crucial.While it may seem like there is competition for supply from different countries, the focus on animal productivity and growing the industry increases the overall market, benefiting everyone.In a growing market, everyone wins, whereas mature markets lead to competition over market share.Current investments in Australian export fodder focus on health and wellbeing for the future.Weather-damaged product is a major contributor to lower gross margins for hay growers in Australia. Investments in mitigating this issue can positively impact profitability.Conditioning the hay reduces the risk of rain damage by reducing drying time. Focusing on shortening the dry-down period can significantly improve contribution value.Using a tedder rake can hasten the drying process but increases the risk of losing colour. This problem has made people hesitant to adopt teddering.US tedders don’t spread the hay out; they fluff the windrows to promote airflow through them.