Our Products

PEI HAY

The Best Hay in World?

Prince Edward Island is reputed to grow some of the best Timothy hay in the world.


Weather

Hay grows best when there is optimal rainfall and where the days are warm and the nights are cool. PEI offers these ideal weather conditions for hay production and produces over 600,000 metric tonnes of hay and forages per year.


New Hay Crop Every Third Year

Hay grown on PEI is part of three-year rotation crop with potatoes. The resulting two year old crop of hay results in a highly nutritious feed that is superior to that being harvested from old fields of hay. Because the hay fields are being regularly rotated there is less problems with weeds and undesirable plants. As well, Island Meadows can quickly respond to market driven specialty mixes with other plants such as custom alfalfa/timothy blends.


Island Location

PEI has the unique attribute of being surrounded by one of the largest natural filters, 1150 miles of ocean coastline. Its isolation has prevented many of the common pest and diseases inflicting mainland agriculture and remains hessian fly free.


Winter Grass

Island Meadows selects from some of the best timothy hay fields on PEI to produce its Winter Grass. The combination of weather, crop rotation and protected growing environment all lead to a healthy nutritious feed for your animals.

PRODUCTION

How is Winter Grass Produced?

Island Meadows uses fresh and ensiled haylage to make its high quality Winter Grass. Hay is cut in the morning an allowed to partially dry to the optimum moisture level. This will vary between 35% and 50% depending on whether it is to be processed immediately that day.

Harvested hay is round baled and either brought to the production plant for immediate processing or wrapped and ensiled in a tube line for future use. Hay is unrolled and square baled for pressing at the plant. Over 45 tonnes of pressure is used to compress the hay into manageable 18-20kg (40-45lb) packages. Hay is then double bagged and sealed to prevent exposure to oxygen.

Hay is cut	Hay is unrolled	Hay is square baled
Preparation for pressing	Hay is Pressed	Ready for the market