The Indiana Forage Council (IFC), with assistance from Purdue Extension and SureTech Laboratories, is hosting a contest for Indiana producers who will harvest forage for hay or baleage within the state for the 2022 hay season.

The Hoosier Hay Contest seeks to promote forage production, inform hay producers on the nutritive value of their hay and encourage producers to sample and test their hay or baleage before feeding it to livestock.  It also creates a friendly competition among Indiana producers on who produces higher-quality hay.

SureTech Laboratories in Indianapolis will analyze all samples and release only to the contest organizer, producer and producer’s local Purdue Extension agriculture and natural resources educator.

The Hoosier Hay 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 $10 per sample with the contest limited to 100 samples. Entries must be received by Sure Tech Labs and Indiana Forage Council by September 30, 2022.

Special thanks to Hutson, Inc for major sponsorship of this contest!

Dr. Shelby Gruss, Post-doctoral researcher at Purdue University, gave an update on the Purdue University dhurrin-free sorghum research at the 2022 Indiana Forage Council’s annual meeting. The absence of dhurrin eliminates the fear of hydrogen cyanide poisoning when immature or stressed sorghum forage are consumed by livestock.

Devon Churchill explained the value of making improvements by implementation of a rotational stocking system to the Churchill Farms’ pasture management program at the 2022 Indiana Forage Council Annual Meeting.

Justin Waldrip (hand raised), Sure-Tech Laboratories lab director and Indiana Forage Council Director, gave a tour of the soil, forage, and feed laboratory after the Indiana Forage Council’s annual meeting, and before a meal and seminar speakers.