Hay Testing FAQ
We take hay sampling requests online and now offer a drop box located outside the front door of our office for your convenience after hours.
Hay samples start at $50.
To request a test online, click:Registration After completing the registration, Please bring in your hay sample during office hours or drop it in our drop box located outside our front door at your convenience. We will contact you by email within approximately 10 business days with your results.
Why Do We Test Hay?
Hay testing is an important management tool to determine the nutritional value of your hay. Hay quality can vary greatly due to forage species, stage of maturity, weather conditions during harvest, storage practices, and other factors. A forage analysis removes the guesswork from feeding decisions by providing information about protein, energy, fiber, and mineral content. Nutritional value is a major component of forage quality and directly affects animal performance, feed intake, and supplementation needs. Test results can help producers match forage quality to animal requirements, reduce feed costs, improve animal performance, and make informed feeding decisions. Hay analysis can also be valuable when marketing hay, providing buyers with documented information about the forage's nutritional value and helping establish a fair market value for the product.
What is being tested in a hay sample?
The standard forage analysis provides information on key nutritional components of the hay. Results include Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), and selected mineral concentrations.
How do I know if the test results are accurate?
Accurate results start with proper sampling. Hay samples should be collected using a forage probe and should represent a single lot of similar forage. Following the hay sampling instructions provided below is essential to obtaining a representative sample and ensuring accurate laboratory results. (attach instructions)
What is a forage lot?
A forage lot consists of hay that is similar in species composition, harvested at a similar maturity, and produced from the same field or fields harvested within a short period of time. Different cuttings, fields, or forage types should generally be sampled and tested separately because their nutritional value may differ significantly.
Can I just grab hay from the outside of a bale?
No. Grab samples taken from the exterior of hay bales do not provide an accurate representation of the forage and can result in misleading test results. A forage probe should be used to collect cores from multiple bales throughout the lot.
Do you have a forage probe available?
Yes. OSU Extension Greene County has a drill-attachment forage probe available for free checkout. The probe can be borrowed and returned within 24 hours to help producers collect representative hay samples.
When should hay be sampled?
For the most meaningful results, hay should be sampled as close to the point of sale or feeding as possible. It is also recommended to wait at least 30 days after baling before sampling to allow the forage to complete its natural "sweat" cycle.
How soon should I receive test results?
You should receive forage analysis results approximately 10 to 14 business days after samples are mailed to the laboratory. Results are provided by email and can be reviewed with the Greene County Agriculture and Natural Resources team if interpretation assistance is needed.
More Information on Hay Testing
Hay Test Pricing Information
Hay tests start at $50. Payment may be made online at the "Registration" link above, or checks may be made payable to OSU Extension Greene County.
The OSU Extension Office in Greene County has a hay probe available for free checkout if returned within 24 hours. Returns beyond 24 hours will be charged a rate of $5 per day. You may call the office to check probe availability at 937-372-9971.
Directions on How to Take a Hay Sample
General rules for preparing your hay sample to bring it to the office