Tools of the trade
Forthe past decade, South Australian grower Sam Irish has been exporting hay.
The industry has boomed in Australia, with hay exports increasing 20 percent throughout the past five years.
Australia has developed a strong record of exporting good-quality hay, and more than one million metric tonnes are now exported each year to countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China.
For Mr Irish, one integral piece of infrastructure has proven key for running a successful hay export business: a quality hay shed.
He had his first shed installed back in 2007, followed by a shed by custom shed manufacturer Entegra in 2016.
“I think if you’re growing hay, you need a hay shed, and a shed is one of the most critical parts of your hay game,” he said.
“You need to buy a shed before you buy a hay baler. It might sound silly but you can use a contractor for a baler, but with a shed – a lot of people have sheds and they don’t rent them out, so you need a shed. And during years like this, having a shed will pay.”
Like with many industries, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Australia’s hay exporting.
Mark Heaslip, east Australia operations manager for hay export business GILMAC, said there had been a combination of factors affecting the industry, with slightly reduced demand, shipping routes being slowed down or ceased and a reduction in availability of good quality containers.
But he said export hay in Australia had been a growing market over 30 years, and indicators showed it would continue on that trajectory.
“I think the hay industry has been quite positive for a long time, and I expect that to continue. It’s a good management tool for farmers and so I think hay, along with wheat and barley, will still be sought after,” he said. “You need all the tools of the trade, so you need to know you can get it cut on time, baled on time, and trucked to either a shed or an exporter. And if you do it in good timing, you’ll get good quality hay and it’ll become a profitable enterprise.”
Mr Heaslip said opportunities existed in the current environment, as long as you had a hay shed.
“Shedded hay is the best option. If you’re making export oaten hay you need to protect it the best you can,” he said.
“So, you get it baled and get it into a shed. Shedding your hay is the best protection for the quality of the hay, and it can stay there for a reasonable amount of time and not deteriorate.
“If it’s well looked after and kept dry and clean, it holds its quality for a long period of time.”
Homegrown engineering success story Entegra Signature Structures has taken a leadership position in the hay shed market with pre-engineered hay shed kits complementing its capability for custom-designed sheds.
The company’s long-term sponsorship of the Australian Fodder Industry Association has also been instrumental in how it has understood the market and engineered its sheds with premium features such as galvanised columns and box gutters included as standard.
The success of Entegra with the export hay market came on the back of record prices the previous year flowing through to on-farm investment.
Entegra has further enhanced its position in a more challenging market this year with the acquisition of Gympie-based Blueprint Engineered Sheds.
The combined business is now able to reach more farmers with increased manufacturing capacity.
People can call Entegra on 1300 296 206 or visit www.entegra.com.au to view hay shed kits or custom shed options.