OSU Extension Offering Hay Testing Program

OSU Extension is offering a forage testing program with the goal of providing timely education regarding forage quality and winter supplementation. The data collected from the samples will be used to create an eBarn’s county hay quality summary. If you are interested in participating in the Extension’s hay testing program, reach out to OSU Extension Medina County and confirm your interests and the availability of the forage sampling probe if needed.

To participate you may submit a dry hay or baleage sample to the OSU Extension office by July 31, 2025 along with a  Hay Sample Submission form  for each sample, and a completed program summary sheet with your payment. The first sample analysis will cost $15 with subsequent samples costing $20. A (NIR) Near Infrared Analysis will be completed. In return you will receive values for Dry Matter content, Total Digestible Nutrients, Crude Protein, ADF, NDF, Ash, Fat & C, P, K for each sample submitted.

Place hay sample in a brown paper bag or Ziplock bag. About 0.5 lbs per sample is appropriate. You should ensure you get sample out of the center of the bale as well as the outer layer. You can also hand sample if you are breaking open a bale. Best practice is to sample from several bales, but try not to mix hay from different lots. 

For more details on the challenges of making hay during a wet May and June, see You Finally Got the Hay Made, How Good is It? by Mark Landefeld, retired Monroe County ANR Extension Educator