Forage Testing Archive
2008 NFTA Certified Testing Labs
U.S. and Canadian forage analysis laboratories that satisfactorially completed National Forage Testing Association (NFTA) testing requirements are listed below. For more on forage testing, visit www.foragetesting.org....
Insight From Blind Samples
Hay growers, buyers and forage testing labs have been at odds over the accuracy and consistency of test results for years. Last fall, two farmer groups,...
Insight From Blind Samples
Last fall, two University extension forage specialists asked growers to send "blind" alfalfa hay samples to several forage testing laboratories and request the samples and results back. With that information, the experts compared the variation within and among the labs tested, and they say lab variation does exist, which is something growers have complained about for years. General results, first reactions and actions were reported in the May issue of Hay & Forage Grower. For stories, click here. To comment on forage testing, email hfg@hayandforage.com. We’ll post comments on this site...
Hay Contest Helps Increase Forage Testing, RFQ Scores
A multi-state hay contest can influence growers to use forage tests and help increase relative forage quality (RFQ) scores...
Striving To Improve
Last month, Scott Pierson not only won the alfalfa division of the Oregon Hay and Forage Association's Hay King Contest for the third straight year, he also topped the small grain hay division. His winning alfalfa entry tested ...
Moisture Manager
Superbowl winner Ron Richner makes the most of limited water
Ron Richner raises 200 acres of irrigated hay along the North Platte River near Casper, WY. Like many Western growers, he worries...
Contest Helped Grower Market Hay
The World's Forage Analysis Superbowl helped Ervin Gara III, Torrington, WY, find new customers and new markets for his hay....
Ward Off Disputes
Hay growers and buyers can avoid disputes over forage quality by having one lab test three eight-core samples from the same stack...
NIR On The Farm
Joe Heese and his colleagues at Farm Partners Supply believe alfalfa can be profitable enough to grow on their rich Iowa farmland...
Drip Pays Dividends
Up to 40% better haylage yields have sold Jerrell and John Young on the benefits of subsurface drip irrigation in their Halfway, TX, operation...
Forage Expert Examines Nutritive Value Vs. Quality
Forage producers who want the best silage, hay or grazing should remember that quality and nutritive value are related, but not necessarily the same thing, says a Texas Cooperative extension specialist. ...
Wyoming Wins
Wyoming growers took top honors in the 2006 World's Forage Analysis Superbowl. Ervin Gara III, Torrington, was named grand champion. David Hinman of Hardrock...
Caught In The Middle
Jim Eschenbaum is frustrated about the lack of forage testing accuracy and consistency among labs even labs certified for accuracy by the National Forage...
Playing The Numbers
One of the largest hay marketing cooperatives in the U.S. constantly has to deal with dairymen over differing forage-test results...
RFQ Can Help Turn Profit
The newest method of estimating forage quality can help West Texas forage producers command higher prices from the dairies they serve...
Learn About Labs
Much of the information you need to know when evaluating a forage-testing lab can only be learned by asking, says Don Meyer. Workers at reputable labs...
