"Livingston County ANR: A Nitrate Nightmare"

A collaborative effort from Livingston County ANR helped a local hay producer overcome a challenging situation.

This producer, a dedicated cash hay producer in our county, faced an unprecedented challenge when a drought struck our region during May and June. He had planted a promising crop of Sudan grass to harvest as hay for his beef cattle and his client’s cattle. However, the prolonged drought had stunted its growth, and the Sudan grass was already heading out, leaving him in a dilemma, does he destroy the crop or harvest it.

His concern was that the drought conditions might have caused nitrate poisoning in his Sudan grass, making it potentially lethal if fed to cattle. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Livingston County ANR took the initiative to assist him in addressing this issue. We couldn't afford to risk the health of his cattle or the reputation of his business.

To tackle this challenge, I reached out to Dr. Ray, a forage specialist at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Ray's expertise was instrumental in guiding us through the process of nitrate testing. Without delay, he provided us with field testing kits that would allow us to assess the nitrate levels in the Sudan grass. Armed with the testing kits, we carefully collected samples from the Sudan grass crop. Additionally, for added certainty and peace of mind, we sent some of these samples to Dairy One for a comprehensive laboratory analysis. The goal was to ensure that the hay was completely free from any lethal levels of nitrates.

The results were nothing short of a relief and celebration. Both the field test and the laboratory analysis confirmed that the Sudan grass was entirely safe for cattle consumption. There were no lethal nitrate levels in the hay. This discovery was a game-changer for this producer and his business.

Knowing that his hay was nitrate-free and safe for his cattle and his customers' cattle, he could now sell his hay crop with confidence. This success not only saved this producer from potential financial losses but also ensured the well-being of the animals he cared for and the satisfaction of his loyal clientele.