Click on the photo above to view a slideshow of forage-related images from World Dairy Expo.
Fuchs Kerfeld Dairy of Albany, Minnesota, took Grand Champion honors and was awarded a $3,000 check for its haylage entry. The cash award, presented to producers Doug and Sandy Kerfeld by Kemin, was one of many recognizing top-quality forage entries in the annual contest.
More than $22,000 in cash prizes was awarded to top-finishing producers. Producers submitted 321 entries in seven forage categories, representing 17 states. The Grand Champion First-Time Entrant cash award of $1,500 went to Ed Byers Dairy, Enon Valley, Pennsylvania.
The prize money came from Kuhn North America. Champions of the seven forage categories, and their sponsors, include:
Dairy hay: SY Dairy, Guthrie, New York. Division sponsor: W-L Research
Dairy haylage: Gregg Troyer, Dalton, Ohio. Division sponsor: Ag-Bag
Dairy corn silage – standard: Doody Farm, Tully, New York. Division sponsor: Blue River Hybrids
Dairy corn silage – BMR: Holmes Acres, New Woodstock, New York. Division sponsor: Mycogen Seeds
Grass hay: Rosedale Genetics, Oxford, Wisconsin. Division sponsor: Barenbrug USA
Commercial hay: Hardrock Farms, Wheatland, Wyoming. Division sponsor: Bridon Cordage
Commercial baleage: Olson Farms, Lena, Wisconsin. Division sponsor: Agri-King
Quality Counts awards
Hay/haylage: Lazy 2K Livestock, Wheatland, Wyoming. Division sponsor: Croplan Genetics
Corn silage: TomBeth Farms, Gays Mills, Wisconsin. Division sponsor: Croplan Genetics
Each category’s top finisher received $1,500. Second-place winners received $500, third place $250, and fourth place $100 each. Quality Counts awards reward quality forage production. The criteria for selection, however, are unknown to contestants at the time of entry.
This year’s hay/haylage and corn silage winners were selected based on total tract digestibility. Croplan Genetics presented each winner with $1,000. Additional support was provided by the National Hay Association and NEXGROW alfalfa, as Silver Sponsors.
Growers from across the U.S. and Canada were invited to send their best samples in either dairy or commercial divisions. Dairy samples were judged on lab analysis (60 percent), visual judging (30 percent), and calculated milk per ton (10 percent).
Commercial entries were judged on lab analysis (70 percent) and visual judging (30 percent). Visual judging consists of analyzing the color, texture, maturity and leafiness, depending on the category. Dairyland Laboratories, DePere, Wisconsin, tested the samples. FG
—From World Dairy Expo news release
