The majority of livestock producers in Harrison County do not test their hay. Determining and understanding forage quality is necessary to provide a balanced diet for the livestock being fed.  Hay testing can provide data that producers and Cooperative Extension Agents use to ensure the nutritional needs of the animal are being met.  Without hay testing, producers are under or over feeding - leading to poor allocation of resources, inadequate animal needs and wasted money.  

The Central Kentucky Hay Contest was created to generate friendly competition among producers while educating them about forage test analysis and the economic impact of the results. Several Central Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Agents are participating in the contest for 2024 (the second year) and gathered samples from their counties to be analyzed by the UK Forage team after preparation by the agents. In total, over 230 samples were analyzed, an increase of about 100 samples from the previous year.

The culmination of the event will be an Awards Banquet that is open to nonparticipants as well to learn about how to read forage analysis results and produce or purchase quality hay for their livestock. 

This will be an annual event that should grow several times over. We anticipate more producers to participate as well as several other central Ky counties.

Pictured above is Dr. Jimmy Henning with the Central KY ANR agents that participated in grinding the samples for the 2024 contest.