March 28, 2024

Hoosier Hay Contest deadline Sept. 15

INDIANAPOLIS — Hay season is in full swing in Indiana, and there’s plenty of time to enter the Hoosier Hay Contest. The deadline to submit hay samples is Sept. 15.

Indiana Forage Council, in coordination with Purdue Extension and SureTech Laboratories, is hosting the contest for Indiana producers who harvest forage for hay or baleage within the state for the 2021 hay season.

Objectives of the Hoosier Hay Contest are to promote forage production and inform hay producers on the nutritive value of their hay. The contest encourages producers to sample and test their hay or baleage before feeding it to livestock. It is also a friendly competition among farmers.

The contest has two categories: hay or baleage. Prize money will go to first-, second- and third-place entries in both categories.

First place will receive $250 and a one-year membership to IFC; second place, $150; and third place, $100. Winners will be recognized at the annual IFC meeting and on the IFC website.

The cost to participate is $15 per sample with the contest being limited to 100 samples.

All samples will be analyzed by SureTech Laboratories in Indianapolis and released only to the contest organizer, producer and producer’s local Purdue Extension agriculture and natural resources educator.

Rules and entry forms can be found at www.indianaforage.org.

Erica Quinlan

Erica Quinlan

Field Editor