SE Hay Contest sets another record

John Carter’s county extension agent accepted the grand prize award on his behalf at the Southeast Hay Contest last week in Moultrie, Ga.

Photo: Kathryn Payne.

The Southeast Hay Contest celebrated its 20th year with record-high participation at the Sunbelt Ag Expo last week in Moultrie, Ga. A total of 496 entries comprised the competition’s playing field, making it the largest forage quality contest in the country.

Beeson Farms of Climax, N.C., topped the relative forage quality (RFQ) charts for the third consecutive year with their alfalfa hay sample that boasted 330 RFQ. Since the farm was ineligible to win the grand prize again, it went to runner-up John Carter from McAlpin, Fla., for his legume-grass mixed hay with 309 RFQ.

Forage samples across nine categories were ranked based on RFQ, and the top three samples in each category received cash awards (see table below). As the grand prize winner, Carter received $2,000 in cash, as well as the choice between the use of a Massey Ferguson DM series disc mower or an RK Series rotary rake for the 2025 production season.

Producers from 13 states — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma (east of I-35), South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (east of I-35), and Virginia — are eligible to participate in the Southeast Hay Contest. The event is coordinated by extension agents with Auburn University, the University of Arkansas, the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University, Clemson University, the University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Tech.

Submissions for the 2025 Southeast Hay Contest are now open. For more information, visit the contest website.