China, Japan to buy hay from Pocatello farmers

Driscoll Farm and Top Hay are embarking on a joint-venture in order to start shipping hay to places like China, Korea and Japan.

Driscoll Top Hay LLC is located in Pocatello and they said shipping hay internationally will be good for Idaho’s economy.

“Agriculture is depressed right now, potatoes are down, wheat is down and we are taking money from China and bringing it into Idaho’s economy,” commented Jason Hawkins, the general manager of Driscoll Top Hay LLC.

More specifically, farmers in Southeast Idaho could benefit from Driscoll Top Hay LLC since the company gets some of its hay from local farmers.

“We have gone as far as Mud Lake and Jerome and down to Malad and we have been sourcing hay from all those areas to bring it here,” commented Hawkins.

One of the reasons places like China is looking to buy hay from other countries is because of their growing need to feed their citizens.

“Their medium household income is rising, and one of the first things they do is buy higher quality food and one of those products is fresh milk, so China is currently importing dairy cows right now to build their dairies up, and they have room for the dairies but they don’t have the resources to create their own alfalfa,” said Hawkins.

Hawkins said other countries recognize the quality of Idaho hay, which is why some do not mind having it shipped around the world.

“They have found that their cows produce so much better with our hay that it is worth the additional cost to bring the forage all the way around the world,” added Hawkins.

The company said they will start shipping internationally sometime this month.