It is often stated that forage and in particular hay is the basis for all horse feeding programs. As part of that conversation is that the hay needs to be quality hay. What is horse quality hay and what does it take to produce that kind of hay? 

To start the conversation a Hay 101 program was held at the Robinson Center for Appalachian Resources Sustainability Center (RCARS) in Jackson Kentucky in early June. The program brought together hay producers and hay consumers to discuss what goes into making hay and then how to evaluate the quality of that hay. The program had UK Extension specialists, Agriculture and Natural Resource Agents and Equipment dealers working together to discuss pros and cons of making hay and the results that come from a feed analysis. 

The cooperation between those involved led to a very interactive session with many questions related to the production of hay.

Having a resource such as RCARS where the program could use a hay field for demonstration and the support of the local equipment dealers made the program a success. 

At the end of the program participants were surveyed and the results were:

100 % of the participants learned something new that could help them to improve the quality of their hay.

100 % of the participants will implement something that they learned at the program 

100% of the participants will evaluate the equipment they currently use to produce hay and work to match the equipment used to the production of hay.

50% of the participants that have not used hay testing in the past will add hay testing to their program.

Cooperation and collaboration between specialists , agents, equipment dealers and hay producers and hay users made of a successful program. All the best to those making hay in Eastern Kentucky.