Understanding a producer’s forage quality is the backbone of providing a balanced nutrition plan.  Hay testing can provide data that producers and Cooperative Extension Agents use to ensure the nutritional needs of the animal are being met.  Without a test, farmers are blindly feeding leading to wasted resources.  

The Central Kentucky Hay Contest was created to generate friendly competition among producers and educate producers about forage test analysis and the economic impact of the results.  Eight central Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Agents organized the contest and gathered samples from their county to be analyzed by the UK Forage team.  In total, over 130 samples were analyzed.

Traditionally, hay testing in Powell County has not been a common practice.  Producers assumed their hay was bad and supplemented based on habit and instinct.  An average of 2-3 farmers tested their hay per year.  The competitive nature of the contest resulted in seven farmers testing 15 samples.  Each participant responded that a better understanding of the results will help guide the supplement purchases in future years.  One farmer reported the hay for the upcoming winter season met the nutritional needs of the herd, thus eliminating the purchase of supplemental feed resulting in a savings of over $1,000.