Farming experts invited to share grain production expertise in China

Farming experts have been asked to share their expertise in grain production with some of China’s dairy and beef farmers.

China’s farmers are hoping to learn about ‘Home n’ Dry’, a protein-based system which is used to create Alkagrain.

The system actively increases the value of grain in the diet of animals without the associated drying costs.

The Farm Store, with stores Bandon and Belgooly, Co Cork, has 12 years experience with the ‘Home n’Dry’ system.

Managing director, Hugh Sisk, will travel to China later this month. “Having travelled extensively in China, it has become obvious to me that a more affluent population is demanding more westernised menus, and that dairy products are now also very prevalent in supermarkets, which traditionally would not have been the case,” he said.

“This in turn has increased the demand for beef, poultry, and pig meat along with milk; the scale of which is so immense that the agricultural industry is struggling to cope with this demand.

“Having visited farms and various agricultural businesses there, I have seen an appetite unequalled anywhere in the world to increase yields and animal performance from limited resources, and this is where Home n’ Dry comes into play,” he said.

The consumption of grain worldwide is becoming a limiting factor, which is evident in today’s high world prices and is exasperated by extreme climatic conditions.

Like farmers worldwide, those in China face higher protein prices, so the introduction of any product that allows them to preserve, store and feed and reducing their reliance on protein would be welcome.