Hay Production Field Day

July 2021

Sometimes planning takes a back seat to reality. How can it happen that no matter how much planning goes into an event or activity it may not turn out exactly as planned as Robert Burns penned in “The Mouse “The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.”

The Hay Filed day was organized by the ANR Agent in Boone County and supported by the extension specialists Drs. Ray Smith and Bob Coleman. The goal of the field day was to help horse owners who typically buy the hay they feed understand the processes and equipment that go into making quality hay.   The program included topics on:

1. Questions to Ask when buying hay
2. Matching the Right Equipment to your operation
3. Forage Testing moisture testing and forage quality.

The field day was held at the Bayer Farm in Crittenden KY which has developed a strong hay business that focuses on horse owners. 

The field day had over 65 in attendance and was supported by the local Kubota dealership with a wide range of equipment. One might ask if the planning was done and 65 people attended how did this not turn out. Well, the aim was to bring horse owners together but instead the attendees where hay producers looking for information to produce quality hay for horse owners.   The attendees while different that expected where interested in the topics and how to produce hay for that market. The conversations were lively, covering topics related to hay quality and bale size along with helpful information on various pieces of hay making equipment.

While the expected audience was not there the horse owner will benefit as the hay producers in attendance have the information that will help them produce quality horse 

hay.