The 2010 World Ag Expo Forage Challenge deadline has been extended to Jan. 14, according to officials of World Ag Expo, to be held Feb. 9-11 in Tulare, CA. This new competition, for farmers and ranchers in 11 Western states, will allow them “the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in producing high-quality forage while challenging each other to some friendly competition,” says Bernie Cargle, 2010 World Ag Expo chairman.
A total of $18,000 in contest awards and prizes are sponsored by Lallemand Animal Nutrition North America. First-place winners in three categories will receive $2,000, second-place winners, $1,500 and third-place, $1,000.
The Forage Challenge, presented by Mycogen Seeds, is open to participants entering alfalfa hay and corn silage grown and harvested during 2009. Entries judged to be the highest quality will be on display at the expo. Those attending can also view educational displays throughout the expo and listen to seminar speakers discussing forage production on Feb. 9.
“Mycogen Seeds is pleased to have the opportunity to help establish this exciting new event at World Ag Expo and focus attention on the production of high-quality forages in the West,” says Greg Cannon, the company’s silage marketing specialist.
Farmers and ranchers from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming can enter the contest by submitting samples from their bales or silos to the University of California at Davis. Entries will be judged in alfalfa hay, standard corn silage and brown midrib (BMR) corn silage categories. Cash prizes will be awarded based on forage lab analyses preformed by Cumberland Valley Analytical Services, Inc., along with visual evaluations of the entries by dairy nutrition and forage production experts.
The cost is $25 per entry. All forage samples must be submitted to the University of California at Davis by Jan. 14. Download an entry form and contest rules here.