Almarai to grow alfalfa in Arizona for export

Saudi Arabian food producer Almarai has acquired 40km2 of land in Arizona to grow alfalfa hay for export.

The company’s dairy herd, which featured in the Irish Farmers Journal, produces one billion litres of fresh milk per year, from 75,000 dairy cows in the Saudi Arabian desert. The company has strong Irish connections, having been founded as Masstock by the McGuckian brothers. The reported purchase price for the US land block was $47m.

A video from Almarai’s Al Badiah farm is available on www.farmersjournal.tv.