Hay production

The oaten hay market in Western Australia (WA) has developed significantly in recent years. There is an increased focus on the quality of hay for the export market and as a result interest in quality for the domestic market has also grown.

Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia is a partner in the National Oat Breeding Program which has a focus on identifying oats suitable for hay production in WA.

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  • The oat industry delivers nearly $200 million to the state economy each year through oats for human consumption and feed.

  • Export hay fits into most of the accepted cropping rotatons and helps reduce weed seed banks, overcomes herbicide resistance and provides a break from traditional chemical regimes in addition to gi

  • The oaten hay market in Western Australia has developed significantly in recent years.

  • Western Australia exports on average 48% of Australia's oaten hay, exporting around 300 000 tonnes worth over A$88 million in 2012/13.

  • Oats are more competitive with weeds than most other crops but weed control is still critical, particularly in hay crops as weeds can cause downgrading or rejection of export hay.

  • Growing oaten hay on frost-prone paddocks minimises the frost risk as it is cut soon after flowering, avoiding the frost-sensitive period.

  • There are specific requirements for hay for the export market that are different to usual on-farm requirements.

  • Oats in Western Australia are grown for grain, hay, grazing or silage. Each year between 250 000 and 350 000 hectares are sown for grain production, and 113 000 hectares for hay production.

  • Patches of pale stunted wilted plants

    Oats are very susceptible to manganese (Mn) deficiency, which produces a condition called 'grey speck'.

  • Oat plants showing symptoms of acute phosphorous deficiency including necosis moving down from old leaf tip

    Nearly all soils in Western Australia are phosphorus deficient in their natural state but the continual use of phosphorus fertiliser means acute deficiency in broadacre crops is rare, with the exce