2012 Georgia Farm Bureau Quality Hay Contest
The contest is open only to Georgia Farm Bureau members who produce Bermuda grass hay (all types / varieties) on their farms. Entry fee of $15.00 is required to cover the cost of the lab analysis. The contest winners will be announced during the GFB Hay Commodity Conference at the Georgia Farm Bureau Annual Meeting at Jekyll Island in December.
First place in this year's contest is one-year's free use of a Vermeer TM850 Trailed Mower, with an option to buy the mower at a reduced price following the year's free use.
To enter the contest, fill two, one-gallon Ziploc bags with the Bermuda hay sample you are entering in the contest. One should be a core sample or chopped for lab analysis. The second whole sample will be used for visual analysis at the convention.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT EACH SAMPLE BE AS DRY AS POSSIBLE BEFORE PLACING IN THE ZIP LOCK BAG. High moisture will accelerate the build up of mold on the sample and will cause it to be disqualified. Entries must be submitted to the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, Commodities/Marketing Department, by no later than October 31, 2012.
All entries will be tested at the University of Georgia using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) system to determine total digestibility. The top ten samples will be further tested for nitrate and will be disqualified if they exceed recommended tolerance levels of 4500 ppm.
Producers who enter the Hay Contest can have a free listing in the Hay Directory.
Previous first place winners are not eligible to enter the contest again for a period of three years following their win. However, a previous winner may enter his hay sample for the purpose of having it officially graded.
Complete and send this entry form, samples and a check for $15 payable to:
Georgia Farm Bureau
Commodities/Marketing Department
P. O. Box 7068
Macon, Georgia 31209