In 2021, Clay County Cooperative Extension Service (CES) partnered with producers from across the county to test the nutrient value of their hay as part of the 2021 East Kentucky Hay Contest. Results from these forage tests allowed participating producers to better match hay quality to their production goals for different classes of livestock. Similarly, hay costs are typically one of the largest expenses borne by Kentucky cow-calf producers, so actionable information about forage quality can help maximize return on investment of this input. Finally, the data from these hay tests allow producers to determine whether they have room to improve their forage harvest.  

The benefits provided by the 2021 East Kentucky Hay Contest did not end in 2021, however. Producer feedback from that contest led Clay CES to offer a series of programs focused on improvement of hay quality. These programs were offered in spring 2022, and focused on concrete actions farmers could undertake to improve their hay crop’s nutritional value while minimizing dry matter loss during storage. One hundred percent of participating producers indicated they would incorporate at least one of the best management practices on their operations.

The vast majority of Clay County producers who took part in the 2021 East Kentucky Hay Contest signed up for forage testing as part of the 2022 East Kentucky Hay Contest, and several of these farmers also participated in the hay quality educational programs. All producers who participated in both years of the East Kentucky Hay Contest will receive a comparison of their 2021 test results to their 2022 test results. This will provide producers with the necessary data to track their hay quality over time. While this will be interesting for most producers, it will be crucial for those farmers actively working to improve the nutritive quality of their hay.