MAJOR exporter Hay Australia is expanding capacity by a third at its Bridgewater plant.
Framework for the new $1.5 million shed to store up to 18,500 bales arrived at the Calder Highway site last week and will be lifted into position within days.
The company with 32 employees says increased storage will be a game-changer in handling and processing high-density bales.
National grower services and quality assurance manager Geoff Walker said development was a further long-term investment in grower partnerships across the region. Expansion comes a decade after the company, with operations in four states, opened in Bridgewater.
Mr Walker said high-density bales weighed upwards of 750kg compared with older bales of  600kg.
“They require less movements on site as well as truck logistics ... we can put more hay into the sheds and it’s more efficient,” Mr Walker said, “Bales are safer to stack while before, stored hay could become spongey and bottom bales squashed.
“We are becoming more efficient on site and with more storage we can prioritise production.”
The dairy industry in Australia and Asia remains a major market for feed products processed at the Bridgewater plant.
Mr Walker said there continued to be similar challenges domestically and internationally where milk prices were under pressure.
“In Asia, it’s not much different to our dairy farmers here, pushing back on cost.
“Long-time farmers have seen all this before.”
Mr Walker said investment at Bridgewater “comes in this challenging environment but we are looking long-term”.
Hay Australia had taken a similar approach with future staff recruitment, beginning an internship with the University of Adelaide for agronomy students, including Bridgewater placement, Mr Walker said.