How to Enter the 2026 Southeastern Hay Contest

The 23rd Southeastern Hay Contest is accepting entries from hay and baleage producers across the Southeast, with a postmark deadline of Sept. 1. The contest is open to any managed hayfield in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, as well as parts of Oklahoma and Texas east of Interstate 35. Entries must be submitted by the farm where the forage was grown, and operation size does not matter, according to University of Georgia Extension forage specialist Lisa Baxter.

Winners are judged on relative forage quality, or RFQ, a measurement that assesses nutritional value more comprehensively than older forage testing systems. Baxter said the contest has always aimed to promote hay testing and provide education that helps producers improve forage quality, harvesting timing and feeding strategies. Winners are selected independent of forage species or packaging, with nine sponsored categories. State-level awards may also honor Extension agents who submit the most samples.

Winners will be announced Oct. 20 during the opening ceremony of the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia, with plaques and cash prizes. Last year's contest drew a record 540 entries, with Georgia typically the most active state among five to seven states represented. Baxter said it was too soon as of mid-August to estimate 2026 entry numbers, after a challenging growing season in much of the region.

Why Hay Testing and Drought Recovery Matter This Season

Why RFQ testing is the contest's real value

The contest uses relative forage quality rather than species or bale type, which allows hay producers to compare management practices on a common scale. That matters because an independent test result creates a benchmark for decisions about fertilization, harvest timing and winter feeding. Baxter frames the competition primarily as a testing and education program, not just a prize event.

A drought-damaged season raises the stakes for hay quality

The 2025 season ended early and dry conditions persisted through spring and early summer in much of the Southeast, Baxter said. Core submission areas spent months in D3 to D4 drought, and rain has returned only slowly. Many early-to-midsummer harvests were not fertilized because of the drought, which may mean lower protein or energy content in some hay. With most producers likely losing at least one harvest this year, hay stocks are expected to be short, making it more important to know the nutritional value of what is on hand before feeding begins.

Concrete Steps for Southeastern Hay and Livestock Producers

  • Submit contest entries by Sept. 1. Contact your local Extension agent to verify handling; any managed hayfield qualifies, and entries must be postmarked by the deadline.
  • Test hay before winter feeding. Baxter says many early-to-midsummer harvests were not fertilized because of drought, so a test will show whether supplementation with energy or protein is needed.
  • Calculate winter feed requirements now. Hay production is expected to be short this year, with most farmers losing at least one harvest; do not wait until the barn is empty to start sourcing hay.
  • Give drought-stressed fields time to recover. Rather than rushing production, allow fields to return slowly, and use test data to adjust harvest and feeding plans.