THE PROBLEM
It was while Tim Ford was overseas, involved in the first consignment of Australian hay to South Korea, that the difference in feed quality standards first hit him. While the international quality assessment systems for hay and grain are incredibly strict and ensured high quality product, Australia’s approach to feed quality grading was just the opposite. In fact, when Tim returned to Australia he realised that there was no nationally recognised system for assessing feed quality; especially for hay.
Furthermore, Tim had been working in AgriBusiness Marketing and Consulting and knew firsthand that hay marketing was occurring on limited regional basis, rather than on national platform that could broadcast product to a greater catchment of potential end users. It became increasingly clear that there was need for change in the industry.
THE SOLUTION
Realising the need for people to be working together for a better standard and a united future for the hay & feed sectors, Tim launched Feed Central in 2002 with a focus on buying, selling and quality testing hay, grain, silage and straw. 14 years later Feed Central has become Australia’s largest online feed platform and developer of the only nationally recognized system for hay quality assessment.
Feed Central now works with over 10,000 active buyers and 8,000 sellers across the country each year. Guaranteeing that buyers can purchase feed unseen with confidence, Feed Central prides itself on providing detailed quality analysis and information on each product to make sure buyers know what they’re getting. Delivering on fixed price contracts and guaranteeing payment to sellers, Feed Central have implemented a sophisticated trading structure that promises security to all parties. With dispute management processes, managed buying services, personal account managers and a dedicated expert staff team, Feed Central gets down to business every day to make life easier for their customers.
OUR SUCCESS
Toowoomba, Queensland and Shepparton, Victoria serve as the two bases for Feed Central’s expert teams who are proud to say they have more people on the ground and completing inspections than ever before. In fact, it’s this aspect personal approach that Feed Central love the most about their work. Founder and Managing Director Tim Ford admits that he and his team love being out on the open country roads, meeting farmers, inspecting hay and grain.
Since their humble beginnings, Feed Central has expanded their success, building up a network of long term customers, suppliers and carriers as well as developing Australia’s only recognized feed quality assessment system. Today Feed Central has a team of 20 plus truck drivers and contractors inspecting, testing, marketing and delivering hay grain meals and other feeds all over the country.
OUR CONTINUING PROMISE
Feed Central’s online buying and selling platform is Australia’s largest hay and grain marketing opportunity for farmers. Offering the largest selection of product nationally, Feed Central offers personal service and expert advice to both buyers and sellers in a secure and standardised trading structure. Whether it’s testing product, meeting end users, helping them get the best product for their animals or even giving advice on how to get their animals to eat the right product, Feed Central’s passion for the farming industry is clearly reflected in their approach to customer service. Aiming to do their very best to describe the hay properly when assessing quality, and to provide detailed information to relevant parties about what will best help them on their farm, Feed Central is certainly doing something right when it comes to supporting the farming industry.