DARLING Downs farmer Warren Folker believes that in the hay business, quality trumps quantity.
That is the ethos he is taking with him to the Ekka in Brisbane this year.
Mr Folker had a very productive summer forage season on his farm at Wyreema, baling 2000 small bales and 220 large round bales.
Much of it is going to the Ekka for the stud and beef producer market, while his other markets include trade shows such as FarmFest and AgShow, as well as hobby farmers.
Mr Folker has produced the fodder on his 138 hectare property, Kilowen.
Although experiencing a jolted start to the season due to dry conditions, the rain soon fell and he was under way.
“My planting got pushed back to January 5 because I needed to do more preparation of the ground, and even though we had early rain, I was not confident enough and didn’t want to risk my seed at half-profile moisture, so I waited until we had good rain through January to March,” he said.
In January, Kilowen received 180mm, then in February 95mm fell and March had 77mm.
Mr Folker used an International combine on 18cm rows to plant 20 hectares and applied 701ZN at 75kg/ha for extra zinc in the soil.
He then sprayed with Primextra Gold at 3.2L/ha for grass and weed control.
His most outstanding variety this summer was Sugargraze, which was the leafiest and most palatable for hay.
Mr Folker said he paid particular attention to ensuring his hay was right for livestock consumption.
“I started cutting the Sugargraze in mid-March and finished in mid-April,” he said.
“You’ve got to cut it at the 1.5m mark as it’s nice and leafy then. It gets brittle the higher it goes, so cut it young and fresh.
"It may sacrifice quantity, but the quality is what you are after.”
His next move was to employ the help of a contractor to chop it into small pieces about 30cm long, which he said made it more palatable.
