This years’ forage testing and contest has been challenging to say the least. With COVID-19 fears and a switch from KDA doing the testing to UK, left agents and specialist scrambling to put, basically a new program together.

A committee was formed comprising of agents and specialist to work out the details of this new era for the East KY Hay Testing program and contest.  Several Zoom meetings were held and as a result, what was developed, may be one of the best more accurate forage testing programs we have ever had. Before, agents basically pulled the samples and handed them over to the KDA to process. This years’ program looked more like a pony express run. The logistics of getting samples weighted, dried and then tested, took a lot coordination to pull off. Samples basically had to get from one end of the state to the other and back again. ANR Agents in eastern KY stepped up during this unprecedented time to develop a plan and volunteered to assist with the process.

     One would ask is all that effort worth it? Well for Perry County, and I am sure several other Counties, forage production and forage quality is something that has taken a backseat for many years to beef cattle production and other commodities.  Terrain, cost of fertilizer and lime, equipment and seed cost have contribute to this. Also the small amount of Phase I funds to help offset cost, makes forage stand improvement unattractive to most.

     The forage testing program and contest has been very successful in educating producers on the importance and economic impact of forage improvement.

     This program was initiated twenty-four years ago and over this period more than 5600 hay samples have been submitted for testing

     The contest, which creates some friendly competition between the four beef cattle association has been a good instrument to get producers to test their hay.

 Data received from these test assist producers in making management decisions about improving their hay quality. Also the data is being used to balance feed rations that improve animal performance.

      In Perry County, this program and contest has led to a dramatic increase in the number of request to have their forage tested. Most years Perry County has had an average of 25 hay test. This year, that number rose to 38 test.  When this program first started, less than five people requested to have their hay tested. Now 10 to 15 producers are requesting to have their hay tested. This represents around 50% of all forage producers. Clientele realize the economic value of using this data to balance feed rations. On average, feed rations are balanced representing more than 300 animals annually.

     Perry County has seen more than 1000 acres of hay fields renovated using higher quality forage because of data received from this program. This year, Perry County saw its first Alfalfa field established. Soil test for forages have more than doubled, on average 65 soil test per year. What Phase I Funds Perry county has available, about half of it is being used to improve forage stands.

     Educational tours and programs at this contest have educated producers on harvesting their forage crop at the correct times and how to store their hay crop to prevent loss in quality. Also the latest in forage equipment has been demonstrated.

     Information received from this event has led to two Perry County Producers starting a hay selling business. More than $7,000.00 in farm revenue was generated from their business this year.