MACON—Georgia Farm Bureau members who grow Bermudagrass hay are encouraged to enter the GFB 2011 Quality Hay Contest. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at the University of Georgia Testing Lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Test, which predicts fiber digestibility and likely animal intake of hay.

“I’d like to encourage all of our Effingham County Farm Bureau members who have grown Bermudagrass hay this year to consider entering the contest,” said Effingham  County Farm Bureau President Stuart Exley. “Each person who enters the contest will receive a copy of the analysis information from the University of Georgia testing lab, which is a great tool for measuring the nutrition quality of your hay and seeing how you may need to make adjustments in your hay production methods to improve the quality of your hay.”

There is a $15 entry fee for each sample to cover the costs of the lab work. Producers may enter more than one sample. Applications are available at the Effingham County Farm Bureau office or may be downloaded at the GFB website http:/www.gfb.org/commodities.

Checks to cover the entry fee should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau. Entry forms should be returned to the GFB Commodities Department, P.O. Box 7068 Macon, Ga. 31209. The deadline to enter is Oct. 28.

Winners will be determined by RFQ analysis and visual inspection by a forage specialist. Final judging of the top five will occur at the GFB Convention on Jekyll Island in December.

Winners will be announced during the GFB Hay Commodity Conference on Dec. 5.

For more information contact the Effingham County Farm Bureau office at 754-3713.