Wheatland, Wyoming, farmers David Hinman and his daughter, Kellie Hinman, were named the top two winners in the 2016 World Forage Analysis Superbowl competition for Commercial Hay held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo. The contest compares forage samples from across North America on lab and visual analysis.

Hinman, who operates Hardrock Farms with wife, Teri, took first place in the Grand Champion Commercial Hay Division, followed by his daughter, Kellie, who runs Lazy 2K Livestock, in second place. Both operations won the competition with NEXGROW 6422Q alfalfa.

Third place went to JV Schmidt of Center, Colorado, with a Pioneer hybrid.

Forage growers from across the nation competed in the 2016 World Forage Analysis Superbowl held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo. (Photo: Purestock/Thinkstock)

“I’ve grown 6422Q for 10 years and consider it my standby alfalfa,” David said. “It stays fine stemmed, has really big leaves and its longevity is great. Because it consistently delivers high RFD/RFQ and good protein, it’s very easy to market to my dairy customers.”

Located in southeast Wyoming, Hardrock Farms and Lazy 2K Livestock are located at an altitude of 5,250 feet with dry, windy conditions, which David said work to their advantage. “When everyone else is dry, we have center pivots providing irrigation water, which is perfect for putting up nice alfalfa without any rain or storm damage,” he said. “With little rainfall throughout summer and fall, we can cut alfalfa, leave it lay for 10 days and it’s still nice and green. That’s a big advantage for us.”

Hinman’s attention to detail plays a big role in turning out award-winning hay each season. “I use my smartphone each evening to check humidity levels for the next day to see when conditions are right to bale hay,” he explained. “We bale when we get to 50% humidity and quit when levels reach 80%. We often bale at night, when conditions are just right.”

The Hinmans also monitor nutrient levels within their alfalfa fields, taking soil samples annually. “Our biggest field is 230 acres, so we do grid sampling to identify which nutrients are needed in certain areas of field. This practice helps us apply exactly what’s needed in each area to get optimum tonnage, helping us reach 6.5 to 7 tons per acre with some of the varieties we plant.

“I love to put up the best quality of hay that I can,” David added. “Every year I want the quality to be better than in the past. Selling high quality hay helps to establish and maintain good relationships with our customers, many of whom are 1,000 miles away.”

Other winners

World’s Forage Grand Champion in Grass Hay category – Tom Leubke – Mayer, Minn.

Grand Champion First Time Entrant – baleage category  - Dynamic Dairy Nutrition, Hixton, Wis.

Quality Counts Hay/Haylage – New Day Dairy, Athens, Wis.

Grand Champion Commercial Hay – Hardrock Farms, Wheatland, Wy.

Grand Champion Grass Hay – Paradise Rueth, Oxford, Wis.

Source: Forage Genetics International