Pyrenees Hay Processors Co-operative Ltd. is the only farmer owned dedicated hay growing, processing and trading cooperative in Australia. The Co-operative head office and administrative facilities, processing and storage facility, weighbridge and growing areas are situated in and around Avoca, approximately 2 hours north of Melbourne. PHPC, which specialises in the growing, processing and exporting of premium quality Australian Oaten Hay was established in 2001 by a group of framers. The group realised that whilst they were able to grow crops of premium oaten hay, the only way they could supply the overseas markets was to sell to processors and exporters in other areas. The farmers believed that by investing in their own storage and processing facility it would allow them to be in total control of their product. Following many meetings, surveys and discussions the decision was made to commit considerable investment into realising their dream of becoming a totally independent grower/exporter of premium oaten hay.

The first stage in achieving and maintaining premium standards is for all growers to operate under the same Quality Management System. This system encompasses guidelines for soil preparation, growing, cutting and curing, and pre and post baling. PHPC has the capability of storing 5,000 metric tonnes of baled hay in sheds on-site and a further 5,000 metric tonnes in sheds on-farms. The compacting process is all completed at the Avoca plant where quality standards are strictly enforced and maintained. The hay is compressed, strapped, packed into blocks and stretch-wrapped. Finally, in keeping with the Co-operatives guidelines regarding self-sufficiency, export containers are packed and fumigated on site by accredited PHPC staff prior to being transported to the Port of Melbourne on trucks, which are owned by Co-operative members. Every step in each process is under the scrutiny of dedicated and committed people, each fully aware of the exacting standards required to satisfy the export market. The Total Quality Management systems adopted by PHPC act as the catalyst in each stage of the process of producing oaten hay of the highest quality.

The end result is the ability to constantly supply buyers with Premium Oaten Hay, each and every time. After all, this was the exact outcome envisaged by the group of framers back in 2000, when the idea was first discussed.

Organisational Structure

PHPC employs a number of staff on and off site and you can read about them on our staff page