Success Stories By MajorProgram FY2025Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025
Fall Pasture Management
Author: Gary Stockton
Major Program: Forages
17 farmers and landowners gathered in Boone County to attend a Fall Pasture Management class. With the increasing need for efficient land use and sustainable farming practices, this class was designed to address key challenges in pasture health and productivity.The class covered essential topics such as soil nutrients, overseeding, and grazing management. These elements are critical for improving pasture conditions, increasing forage production, and ultimately enhancing livestock performance.Par
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Forage Production
Author: Daniel Allen
Major Program: Forages
The Importance of Planning AheadAs part of the services the Cooperative Extension Service offers soil testing for our agriculture community is one of the key services that can make a real difference in a farm’s production. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent of Kenton County makes lime and fertilizer recommendations to producers so that they may increase hay yields for their cattle herds. The summer of 2024 proved to be a very dry season that resulted in low quality and
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Central Kentucky Hay Contest 2024
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Forages
Kentucky has long been known for our Bluegrass Pastures and green, rolling hills. We have an abundance of forages with nearly 5 million acres of hay and pasture lands. Recent programming surveys by the UK Beef Extension group indicate that about only 35% of livestock producers test hay for quality. Utilizing hay testing to determine nutrient content allows for more efficient feeding of livestock through the winter by matching high quality hay with livestock that have the greatest nutrient requir
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Soil Testing
Author: Paul Sizemore
Major Program: Forages
With the high prices of fertilizer in the last few years it has been financially difficult for many forage Producers to apply the proper nutrients to the soil to maximize yield and improve quality of their hay, this has led to a steady decline in the quality and yield of the forages they're producing therefore affecting the health of the herd they're feeding it to.Numerous classes were conducted to provide a more detailed explanation into soil testing to our Forage Producers.. Soil
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Buttercup Spray Program
Author: Gary Hamilton
Major Program: Forages
Pasture forages provide the majority of the nutrients for Montgomery County beef cattle & other livestock. Due to weather conditions, winter feeding areas & in some cases over grazing, weeds such as Buttercup since 2020 have become a major problem in many pastures. These weeds compete with & reduce the availability of our desired grazing forages. The Montgomery County Extension District Board purchased a special sprayer in 2020 for the ANR Agent to make available to Montgomery
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Forage Field Day
Author: Chelsea Sapp
Major Program: Forages
Describe the Issue or Situation.Farmers are needing information and research to show them how beneficial forages can be and how to save time and money by properly planning and caring for forages they produce. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).This program reached 110 farmers/agricultural workers in Marion, Nelson and Washington and other Central KY counties. I worked with Makers Mark Distillery in Loretto and KY Forages and Grasslands Counci
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Forage
Author: Ted Johnson
Major Program: Forages
Describe the Issue or Situation. The majority of Lee County forage producers do not utilize legumes in their hay fields or pastures.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable). I have conducted several programs and personal farm visits to address this issue. I produced a forage workbook that involved many of our University of Kentucky publication to distribute to all participants, produced several displays to set at the producer meetings. Set up and helped
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2024 Central Kentucky Hay Contest
Author: Joseph Ray
Major Program: Forages
Understanding forage quality is essential to developing a balanced nutrition plan for livestock. Hay testing provides critical data that helps producers and Cooperative Extension Agents ensure the nutritional needs of animals are met while minimizing waste and unnecessary costs. Without proper analysis, farmers are left to rely on guesswork, often leading to inefficient feeding practices and wasted resources.The Central Kentucky Hay Contest was created to address this challenge, fostering friend
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East Kentucky Hay Contest, (Boyd County)
Author: Meredith Hall
Major Program: Forages
Livestock owners are responsible for meeting the nutritional needs of livestock throughout the year. Without knowing the nutritional makeup of the hay provided herdsman cannot make an informed decision on what ration will meet the needs of their animals. Forage producers do not know the true value of their product without knowing the nutritional makeup of the hay or haylage produced. The Boyd County Cooperative Extension Service participated with other Kentucky Agriculture Agents in The Ea
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Chemical Fertility of Cool Season Grasses
Author: Tad Campbell
Major Program: Forages
According to NASS USDA statistics for 2023, Kentucky has over 1.98 million acres of grass hay. Agriculture leaders in Mason County defined a need to demonstrate response of cool season grass hay to chemical fertilizers. The desire was to develop a demonstration of grass hay’s response to fertility levels of varying fertilizer products locally including lime. University of Kentucky Extension Agriculture Agents from the Buffalo Trace counties collaborated with University
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ANR Project Grants helped Menifee Producers
Author: Mary McCarty
Major Program: Forages
Small farms and limited-acre farms bring different challenges to new residents. Knowing where to begin and how to make all needed purchases puts these farmers in a better starting position. The Menifee ANR Council and ANR/4-H Agent applied and received a small grant through the University of Kentucky ANR Office that will work with new residents and small farmers willing to work with the project. Beef producers, Equine Producers, and small ruminant farmers will be eligible. &nbs
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2024 Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Lindsay Arthur
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
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Central KY Educational Hay Program
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Forages
We held the educational portion of the Central KY Hay Program in December and more than 24 participants attended the meeting. This program consisted of recognizing the hay contest category winners as well as an educational component from Dr. Bob Coleman and Dr. Jimmy Henning as well as a producer panel where some of the category winners were able to share their experiences with the group. In the post survey of the program all participants had an increase in knowledge of interpreting hay tes
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Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Linda McClanahan
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
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Resources for Using the County’s Shared-Use No-Till Drill
Author: Lane Hall
Major Program: Forages
The Lawrence County Soil Conservation District rents out a No-Till Drill to local farmers. However, most people do not know how to properly calibrate this piece of equipment. Improper calibration and depth settings lead to poor stands and lost profits. A series of things have been done to help farmers accurately calibrate the drill. The Lawrence County ANR Agent worked Dr. Jimmy Henning, UK Forage Specialist, and the ANR Extension agents from Boyd, Elliott, Greenup and Cart
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2024 Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Levi Berg
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
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2024 Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Shelby Cleaver
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties (Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell and Scott County). A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Nicholas county producers had 9 samples submitted for t
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Central Kentucky Hay Contest
Author: Beau Neal
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
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2024 Central Kentucky Hay Contest
Author: Jason Vaughn
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
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Hay Contest
Author: Robert Smith
Major Program: Forages
The first annual forage contest in Nelson County, KY, highlights the community’s growing focus on producing, evaluating, and improving forage quality through scientific testing. This initiative, a collaboration between the Nelson County Soil Conservation and Nelson County Beef Cattle Association, aimed to bring awareness to forage nutrient content and help farmers optimize their feeding strategies.Key Highlights:Purpose and ProcessObjective: To objectively assess hay quality across partici
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South-Central Kentucky Hay Contest
Author: Taylor Graves
Major Program: Forages
Washington County, with its 44,783 acres dedicated to hay production, plays a significant role in the region's agricultural landscape. Even with such a large number of acres in hay production producers were only utilizing the extension office to send out a handful of forage samples each year. Forage quality plays a vital role in animal nutrition and in a producer's ability to sell hay. The extension agents in old District Five understand the importance of forage quality and wanted to ent
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2024 Central Kentucky Hay Contest Helps Producers Achieve Improved Hay Quality
Author: Steven Musen
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
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South-Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Jonathan Oakes
Major Program: Forages
Issue or Situation:Being a hay producer can bring a lot of challenges, such as inconsistent quality, low yields, and poor nutrient content. These issues can cause financial strain for producers who rely on hay to feed their livestock, and in some cases, forcing them to purchase more expensive feed and supplements from other sources. It was evident that the need for better management practices, quality improvement, and education surrounding hay production needed to be addressed.Outreach or Educat
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South-Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Tracie Goodman
Major Program: Forages
Issue or Situation: Being a hay producer can bring a lot of challenges, such as inconsistent quality, low yields, and poor nutrient content. These issues can cause financial strain for producers who rely on hay to feed their livestock, and in some cases, forcing them to purchase more expensive feed and supplements from other sources. It was evident that the need for better management practices, quality improvement, and education surrounding hay production needed to be addressed.Outreach or
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Southeast KY Hay Contest
Author: Garrard Coffey
Major Program: Forages
Issue or Situation: Being a hay producer can bring a lot of challenges, such as inconsistent quality, low yields, and poor nutrient content. These issues can cause financial strain for producers who rely on hay to feed their livestock, and in some cases, forcing them to purchase more expensive feed and supplements from other sources. It was evident that the need for better management practices, quality improvement, and education surrounding hay production needed to be addressed.Outreach or
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Master Haymaker Program
Author: Lindsay Arthur
Major Program: Forages
Kentucky ranks 4th nationally for hay production. In 2023, more than 2 million acres were harvested, producing 4.16 million tons of hay. Alfalfa hay production by Kentucky farmers is estimated at 270,000 tons with sales in 2022 totaling a whopping 344 million dollars. (National Agriculture Statistics Service and Economic Research Commission). The opportunity and market to sell high quality hay is present but the requirements to get to a quality finished product can be daunting. Agriculture
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Master Haymaker
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Forages
Kentucky ranks 4th nationally for hay production. In 2023, more than 2 million acres were harvested, producing 4.16 million tons of hay. Alfalfa hay production by Kentucky farmers is estimated at 270,000 tons with sales in 2022 totaling a whopping 344 million dollars. (National Agriculture Statistics Service and Economic Research Commission). The opportunity and market to sell high quality hay is present but the requirements to get to a quality finished product can be daunting. Agricu
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No Till Drill
Author: Carol Hinton
Major Program: Forages
Describe the Issue or Situation.Farmers and homeowners have been recovering from several years of over grazing and over cutting pastures and hay fields. With very little time to put in new forages. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).Producers have increased their utilization of the Cooperative Extension Service no till drill. The drill has been rented by new producers and homeowners. The drill went over 300 more acres
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Forages
Author: Patrick Hardesty
Major Program: Forages
As a follow-up to the Hayfield Walk in the fall of 2024, a Pasture and Hayfield Management Meeting was developed in conjunction with the Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association. With approximately 100 in attendance, forage producers learned how to control weeds by cultural, mechanical and chemical methods. New herbicides were highlighted at this meeting. Following the meeting, over one pallet of new herbicide that doesn’t kill clover was ordered. Producers are understanding the i
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Hay Auction 2025
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Forages
Madison County continues to rank in the top 3 in the state of Kentucky for hay with approximately 43,600 acres produced. To help market local hay, the Madison County Extension ANR agent and the Madison County Fair Board partnered to coordinate a regional hay auction at the county fairgrounds.On Saturday January 18th, 2025 our 18th annual hay auction took place with 96 lots of hay and straw offered for sale. The Madison County ANR agent coordinated some deliveries, and load out, and provided radi
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Resources for Using the County’s Shared-Use No-Till Drill
Author: Rebecca Konopka
Major Program: Forages
Describe the Issue or Situation.The Carter County Soil Conservation District rents out a Great Plains No-Till Drill to local farmers. However, many farmers do not know how to properly calibrate this piece of equipment and improper calibration and depth settings lead to poor stands and lost profits. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).A series of things have been done to help farmers accurately calibrate the drill. • &nbs
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Hay Testing Program
Author: Paul Sizemore
Major Program: Forages
It was another great year for the annual forage testing program and hay contest. We received more than 600 samples from 17 Eastern Kentucky Counties. Samples were up slightly this year, which was to be expected. Several Counties were impacted by the flood and have been working to renovate back into production. The forage testing program and contest has been very successful in educating producers on the importance and economic impa
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Union Co Hay Show
Author: Katie Hughes
Major Program: Forages
Describe the Issue or Situation.Each year the Union Co Extension Office host a hay show during the county fair for producers to bring in their hay to be tested by the state hay trailer. This is opened for not only Union co producers but also for Crittenden, Henderson and Webster county producers. People could bring in their hay and get samples put from it the day of the show or they could pull their own samples and bring to the office incase they were unable to attend the show. Describe the
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NIR for the Barrens
Author: Jacob Hall
Major Program: Forages
NIR Technology Comes to Barren County: A Game Changer for Kentucky Forage TestingFor years, cattle producers have been feeding rations without precise data on the nutritional quality of their hay. Information such as protein levels, fiber content, macronutrients, and micronutrients was often unavailable or delayed, making it difficult to match feed to the specific needs of livestock. That changed in May 2025, when Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) technology became locally available—right h
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Forage Testing for the State of Kentucky/ KET Appearance
Author: Tyler London
Major Program: Forages
For many years, cattlemen and producers have fed rations without data for their hay being readily available. By data I am meaning proteins, fibers, macronutrients, micronutrients, etc. However, in May of 2025 this all changed when NIR was no longer located in a different state or far off at an extreme cost. NIR came to Barren County. Glasgow to be exact. NIR Near Infrared Spectrometer gives feed value and protein and many other things of a farmers feed and forages. This allows a farmer to match
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Sold! The Tri-County Hay & Straw Auction
Author: Christopher Schalk
Major Program: Forages
Tri-County Hay & Straw Auction has expanded from the original Metcalfe, Monroe & Barren Counties to all of the West 8 counties as well as agents for KY State University. The annual event has become somethings that both buyers and sellers of hay and straw have come to depend on. The auction system of selling hay allows the supply and demand to accurately drive the market. In fact, the Tri County Hay & Straw Auction allows all producers to get an idea of the value of
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Tri County Hay and Straw Auction
Author: Gary Bell
Major Program: Forages
Tri-County Hay & Straw Auction has expanded from the original Metcalfe, Monroe & Barren Counties to all of the West 8 counties as well as agents for KY State University. The annual event has become somethings that both buyers and sellers of hay and straw have come to depend on. The auction system of selling hay allows the supply and demand to accurately drive the market. In fact, the Tri County Hay & Straw Auction allows all producers to get an idea of the value of
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Bale Grazing Field Day
Author: Adam Huber
Major Program: Forages
In Kentucky we often have wet and muddy winter conditions, and for livestock producers that are feeding hay during the winter months this can cause issues with livestock health, soil health and can be hard on producers and their equipment. Typical hay feeding in Kentucky consists of setting out rolls of hay every few days in the pasture fields were the livestock are fenced in and it requires the producers to drive through the wet muddy conditions compacting the soil and creating condensed areas
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Farm Fencing School
Author: Clinton Hardy
Major Program: Forages
Daviess County Extension Service has partnered with faculty from the Princeton research station over the past 4 years to host two of the University of Kentucky fencing schools. Farm fencing across western Kentucky is in constant need of repair and replacement. The fencing schools provide an opportunity for farmers to receive adequate training on fence construction. Most will request support from the County Agriculture Investment Program for partial funding for their fence const
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Beef Pasture Workshop
Author: Allison Tucker
Major Program: Forages
With variable weather conditions in the past few years, pasture management and hay quality have become a priority for many livestock producers. Fayette County teamed up with the Franklin, Woodford, and Scott County Ag Agents, UK Forage Specialists, and Corteva Agriscience Range & Pasture representatives, to put on a Beef Pasture Workshop in May. This workshop was designed to help producers find the best forages for their pastures, understand how to control undesirable forages and weeds, and
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Master Haymaker
Author: Brittany Brewer
Major Program: Forages
Kentucky ranks 4th nationally for hay production. In 2023, more than 2 million acres were harvested, producing 4.16 million tons of hay. Alfalfa hay production by Kentucky farmers is estimated at 270,000 tons with sales in 2022 totaling a whopping 344 million dollars. (National Agriculture Statistics Service and Economic Research Commission). The opportunity and market to sell high quality hay is present but the requirements to get to a quality finished product can be daunting. Agricu
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International Grassland Congress Proceedings on UKnowledge
Author: Samuel Smith
Major Program: Forages
The International Grassland Congress has been held every 3-4 years since 1927. These congresses have been the major forage related event in the world during the last 100 years. The University of Kentucky hosted the Congresses in 1981 and again in May of 2023. At these Congresses presenters submit a manuscript that go into a Proceeding volume or pdf that is then distributed at the meeting. These volumes have been valued by delegates returning from the Congresses, but until recently it was difficu
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Development and Implementation of Kentucky Intermediate Grazing School
Author: Christopher Teutsch
Major Program: Forages
The Kentucky Beginning Grazing School was established in 1996. This two-day workshop provides new livestock producers with critical skills needed for designing and implementing a rotational grazing system. The curriculum has remained much the same for the past 28 years. In 2024, we redesigned the Kentucky Beginning Grazing School to focus on topics that would enable new and beginning graziers to have success. To compliment this curriculum, we developed the Kentucky Intermediate Grazing Sch
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KYForages YouTube: Engaging and Informing Forage Producers in Kentucky and Beyond
Author: Christopher Teutsch
Major Program: Forages
In 2017, we established the KYForages YouTube Channel. The impact of this endeavor continues to grow. Our subscribers have increased by almost five times since the channel was established to over 6,700. In this reporting period, content from this channel has been viewed more 115,000 times with an average watch time of just over 12 minutes resulting in a total watch time of approximately 1.4 million minutes. The United States and Canada make up 77% of the total views with
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2024 Heart of America Grazing Conference: Regenerative Grazing...Merging Art and Science
Author: Christopher Teutsch
Major Program: Forages
The 2024 Heart of America Grazing Conference, Regenerative Grazing...Merging Art and Science that was held on October 15-17 in Elizabethtown, KY. This conference was a three-day event that attracted participants from Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and beyond. Day one consisted of an on-farm Pasture Ecology Workshop held near Ceclia, KY. More than 100 participants learned about soil health, bale grazing, dung beetles, watering and fencing systems, winter annual forages, a
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2025 KY Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference
Author: Samuel Smith
Major Program: Forages
In 2025, the 44th annual Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference was held in Bowling Green KY on Feb. 25, 2025 with 120 people attending. This conference was a joint effort of the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, the UK Master Grazer program, and the UK Quality Hay for Horses program. The theme was “Alfalfa Updates and Producing Grass Hay for Premium Markets”. Topics and speakers included: Everyth
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Forage News Newsletters
Author: Samuel Smith
Major Program: Forages
University of Kentucky forage specialists have been distributing a monthly forage newsletter called Forage News for almost 50 years. This publication highlights applied research findings from the UK forage group and the USDA-ARS forage animal production research unit located on UK's campus and specialists in other states. It is also a very useful publication to advertise our upcoming events. The focus of the publication is to provide useful information that can be applied "on-far
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LaRue County Stored Forages- Problems and Solutions
Author: Adam Thomas
Major Program: Forages
Describe the Issue or Situation.LaRue County has an approximately thirteen thousand beef cows grazing fifth teen thousand acres. Cash receipts totaling six million dollars of revenue can be attributed to beef cattle and forage production in the county. One of the factors affecting profitability of the cow calf is winter feeding cost and costs associated with the waste of stored forages. Estimates range from $150-250 per head to feed a cow for 120 days in the winter based on qua
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Horse Pasture Evaluation Program
Author: Samuel Smith
Major Program: Forages
The UK Horse Pasture Evaluation Program had another strong evaluation season during the summer of 2025. This program began in 2005 as part of Equine Programs to develop stronger ties with Kentucky’s horse industry. The program focuses on the following objectives:• Providing detailed pasture management recommendations to horse farm owners and managers.• Improving pastureland by increasing forage quality and quantity and reduce the need for stored feeds, such as hay and grain.&bull
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Summer Annual Forages Field Day
Author: Megan Wetenkamp
Major Program: Forages
Forages make up 70% of the cropland in Henry County. Many farmers are unable to raise row crops on the rolling hills, while others have chosen to utilize prime land for high quality forages like alfalfa. Summer annual forages are often overlooked as an important tool for farmers. These species can be used as an emergency forage if spring stands fail. They can also be used as a bridge crop when establishing novel endophyte fescue. More importantly, they make a high-quality and versatile feed that
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