By Miguel Castillo
Since 2015, forage samples from North Carolina have continuously been submitted to the Southeastern Hay Contest and have consistently placed in the top-3 positions of several categories, specially alfalfa. Beeson Farms from Climax, NC and Mountainside Farm from Taylorsville, NC have consitently ranked high in the contest and specially in the alfalfa category. See a historical summary. Alfalfa hay samples from North Carolina farmers have been the overall contest winners for the last three consecutive years (2022, 2023, and 2024) with the highest Relative Feed Quality (RFQ) index values ≥327.
In 2024, the cool-season perennial grass category top-three positions were obtained by NC hay samples from Cline Farms (Valdese, NC), Brandon Creech (Zebulon, NC) and Mountainside Farm (Taylorsville, NC). In addition, sample from Brandon Creech ranked 3rd in the legume baleage category.
Following the contest motto, “prove your hay is the best”, NC farmers continue to produce high quality hay in the Southeast USA. Congratulations to our producers and their County Extension Agents.
Source : ncsu.edu