Hay quality varies depending on when it was cut, growing conditions and how it is harvested and stored. While we had more rain this year, hay quality tests on some meadows appear to be lower in crude protein than expected. Accurately sampling and testing hay is the only way to get an accurate nutritive value to make sure cows are meeting requirements and to minimize hay waste. Central Sandhills Area Extension loans out hay probes for ranchers to collect hay samples. Call 645-2267 if you would like to borrow one or just have questions on sampling hay.
Extension is committed to helping Nebraskans know more about creating resource- and energy-efficient rural and urban landscapes, protecting and managing water resources, properly managing insect and wildlife pests, and more.
Active in all 93 counties and at communityenvironment.unl.edu