Success StoryHay Contest Revamped, Expanded, and Still Helping Farmers



Hay Contest Revamped, Expanded, and Still Helping Farmers

Author: Brian Jeffiers

Planning Unit: Johnson County CES

Major Program: Forages

Plan of Work: Livestock and Crops

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Proper nutrition of livestock relies on understanding the content of the feedstuffs being provided to the animals. Grains and protein supplements have a consistent and regulated composition, but hay varies dramatically based on factors such as species, time of harvest, curing conditions, and handling. To help farmers fill in the final piece of their ration puzzles, counties in the eastern region of Kentucky banded together in the late 1990's to conduct the East Kentucky Hay Contest. The event involves sampling of producer forages by agents, who send the samples for processing in a lab. The top results in each of several categories receive prizes, but all farmers win by learning exactly what they are feeding to their livestock. 

When the previous processing lab could no longer participate, an agent committee in 2020 worked to identify a new lab and create an entirely new packaging and tracking system to permit seamless management of the expected large number of samples. At the end of the process, some 624 samples had been processed, by far the program's largest number ever. These samples came from 15 counties, including 34 from Johnson County. Producers received feedback on the exact nature of their hay, permitting them to pursue ration calculations with UK specialists to pinpoint roughage, concentrate, and supplement feeding rates for optimum animal productivity for the winter of 2020-21.






Stories by Brian Jeffiers


Extension Helps Farmers Acquire BQCA Despite Pandemic

about 2 years ago by Brian Jeffiers

Safe and humane care of livestock is a high-profile issue in animal agriculture. For that reason, a ... Read More


Gardeners Utilize New Post-Harvest Techniques

about 2 years ago by Brian Jeffiers

Proper care of the soil after harvest is essential for the long-term health and productivity of gard... Read More


Stories by Johnson County CES


Health Fest 2021

Health Fest 2021

about 2 years ago by Brenda Cockerham

Hosting programming during the Pandemic for large gatherings has been difficult, but due to the vacc... Read More


Parent Expo

Parent Expo

about 2 years ago by Brenda Cockerham

Parent Expo is an event held annually by the Early Childcare Council on which the FCS agent serves. ... Read More