Podcast

This week, Jon Paul Driver is joined by Pat Guerin in a special two part episode to discuss some of the many opportunities in the Australian hay industry. The discussion covers the need for industry-wide standards, a shifting R&D focus towards animal performance, and tackling challenges like weather damage and drying processes. It also highlights the importance of collaborative growth in the export market.

Pat Guerin has a strong technical background in the hay industry. His career includes managing large hay export facilities in South Australia and Western Australia, and a background in agronomy and animal nutrition.

Episode Highlights:

• There are significant opportunities to increase the value from research and development investments.
• AgriFutures, the peak government body, oversees 16 different industries, managing their R&D strategic plans.
• R&D investments benefit the entire process chain, not just the grower or plant breeder.
• Over the past 10-20 years, there have been significant productivity increases in the grain sector, making hay less competitive in crop rotations.
• To achieve high yields and improve production quality, the hay growing system needs modification.
• Key components like optimising the plant's response to light and cold are not inbred in the oat and hay varieties used in Australia.
• There is room to improve production quality in the oat and hay industry by incorporating traits like photoperiodism and vernalisation, which are currently lacking in Australian varieties.
• Focusing on these areas presents an opportunity to achieve higher yield values alongside better quality.