MACON — Georgia Farm Bureau members who grow Bermudagrass hay are encouraged to enter the GFB 2012 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 Bermuda grass 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 Web site 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. 31.
Winners will be determined by RFQ analysis and visual inspection by a forage specialist. Nitrate levels above 4,500 parts per million will be disqualified. Winners will be announced Dec. 3 during the GFB Hay Commodity Conference at the GFB Convention on Jekyll Island.
Prizes will be presented to the top five producers. The first place winner will receive the free use for one year of a Vermeer TM850 Trailed Mower, compliments of the Vermeer Manufacturing Company. The winner will have the option to purchase the mower at a reduced price at the end of the year.
Contest participants will receive a detailed copy of their hay analysis information and a free listing in the GFB Hay directory, if they so choose.
Farm Bureau members with hay or poultry litter for sale are invited to list their farm in the 2013 GFB Quality Hay & Litter Directory. The directory will be printed in late November. Producers should complete a form and send to the GFB office in Macon along with a check for $10 for each listing. Checks should be made out to Georgia Farm Bureau.
Because this directory is used for the entire year, producers should include normal and projected production of round and square bales they anticipate selling. Poultry litter can be listed on the same form.
Directories are distributed to all county Farm Bureau offices, county Extension offices, the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, cattle producers, dairy producers, horse owners, directory participants, and at the Sunbelt Expo and the annual GFB convention. The directory is also listed on the GFB website.
For more information contact the Effingham County Farm Bureau office at 912 754-3713 or visit http://www.gfb.org to download the contest and directory forms.
Founded in 1937, Georgia Farm Bureau is the largest general farm organization in the state and is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Its volunteer members actively participate in local, district and state activities that promote agriculture awareness to their non-farming neighbors. GFB also has 20 commodity advisory committees that give the organization input on issues pertinent to the major commodities grown in Georgia.
