Export hay is hay that is produced for export markets. In

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

and other countries around the world, hay needs to meet a number of quality standards before it can be exported. Because hay in standard round and large square bales is not dense enough to be economically exported to overseas markets, export hay is normally processed to increase the density of the product and improve its suitability for

containerization Containerization is a system of intermodal freight transport using intermodal containers (also called shipping containers, or International Organization for Standardization, ISO containers). Containerization, also referred as container stuf ...

. This form of processing was pioneered by ACX Pacific Northwest, and is often referred to as double compression. This process allows forage and roughage exporters to inspect and package the hay prior to shipping. In Australia, Oaten hay is the most common type of export hay.

Alfalfa Alfalfa () (''Medicago sativa''), also called lucerne, is a perennial plant, perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, ...

(also known as lucerne in Australia) is also grown for export hay, often under irrigation, and is the most common type of export hay in the U.S.

References

External links

RIRDC Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
Fodder Export Foreign trade of Australia {{Agri-stub