National Hay Show Rules and Regulations

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Please review this carefully as the rules of the competition have changed.

Hay Contest expenses have forced AFGC to begin charging an entry fee. 

We regret any inconvenience or hardship this may cause.

1. Entrants must be an American Forage and Grassland Council (AFGC) direct member or affiliate member in good standing.

2. Entrants may enter one (1) sample per class. Fee is $20.00 per entry. Make check payable to AFGC. Entrants will receive a forage analysis for each entry. Entrants may enter any or all classes.

3. Sample must be grown by the exhibitor.

4. Hay, baleage/haylage and corn silage samples must have been harvested, baled or ensiled with conventional equipment. Samples resulting from special handling such as hand harvesting will be disqualified. Judges’ decision will be final.

5. Hay and baleage samples should include:

• Approximately one-half (1/2) pound core sample for dry hay.
• Approximately one (1) pound core sample for baleage/haylage.*
• Approximately five (5) pounds of cross section of a bale (10"x14"x18") string tied for handling.
• Package samples from large bales or stacks in approximately the same size and/or weight and string tie.
• Corn silage samples should be 1 gallon of material sealed in a clean plastic bag.*

*Baleage/Haylage and silage samples should be either frozen or cold stored until shipping. Frozen or cold stored samples should be shipped on Monday to be received before the weekend. 

6. Label each entry with the exhibitor’s name, full address, type of forage and forage show class to be entered. An entry registered in the wrong class will be considered the exhibitor’s error and may be reclassified by the judges.

7. Tie, wrap and label each entry separately to facilitate handling. Do not wrap dry hay entries in air tight bags that may cause sweating, mildew, and odor. If plastic bags are used for dry hay wrapping, make several small holes in the bag to allow the sample to breathe.

8. Forage Classes (Grass class sample not to exceed 10% legume and Alfalfa Class sample not to exceed 10% grass):

I. Warm-Season perennial grasses (i.e. bermudagrass, bahiagrass, johnsongrass)

II. Warm-season annual grasses (i.e. millets, sorghums, teff)

III. Cool-Season perennial grasses (i.e. tall fescue, orchardgrass)

IV. Cool-Season annual grasses (i.e. ryegrass, triticale)

V. Legume-Grass mixtures (50/50 is ideal)

VI. Alfalfa

VII. Baleage/Haylage (grass-based may contain some legume)

VIII. Corn Silage

9. Samples will be judged as follows:

Forage Analysis                  70%

Physical Appearance           30%

TOTAL SCORE                    100%

*Samples with nitrate (NO3) levels over 5000 parts per million (ppm) on a dry matter basis will be disqualified.

10. Awards may be presented to the top three (3) entries in each class. Judges are not required to present awards.

Contest deadline is April 9, 2010. HAY MUST BE FROM 2009 CROP ONLY!!!

Please make check payable to AFGC and send payment ($20.00 per entry fee) to:

            AFGC, 350 Poplar Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126

Please ship your samples directly via FedEx or UPS to:

            Mark Green, NRCS, 688 S. State Hwy. B, Suite 200, Springfield, MO 65802