Johnson Farms LLC, Daggett, Mich., took Grand Champion honors and was awarded a $2,500 check for its standard corn silage entry in the World Forage Analysis Superbowl. The cash award was presented by Kemin, and was one of many recognizing top-quality forage entries in the annual contest.
More than $22,000 in cash prizes were awarded to top-finishing producers participating in this year’s contest. Producers submitted 468 entries in seven forage categories, representing 25 states and provinces. The winners were announced Oct. 1 at the World Forage Analysis Superbowl Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Mycogen Seeds, at World Dairy Expo.
The Grand Champion First-Time Entrant cash award of $1,500 went to Todd Schroeder, Cashton, Wis. The prize money was made possible by Kuhn North America.
Champions of the seven forage categories, and their sponsors, include:
| Division | Winner | Hometown | Division Sponsor |
| Baleage | Herbert Mast | Reedsville, Wis. | Agri-King |
| Commercial Hay | David Hinman | Wheatland, Wyo. | NEXGROW alfalfa |
| Dairy Hay | Evergreen View Dairy | Waldo, Wis. | W-L Research |
| Grass Hay | Rosedale Seeds | Oxford, Wis. | Barenbrug USA |
| Haylage | S and S Dairy | Royalton, Minn. | Ag-Bag |
| Standard Corn Silage | John McClelland, Jr. | Viroqua, Wis. | Blue River Hybrids |
| Brown Midrib Corn Silage | Champion Dairy | Clinton, N.Y. | Mycogen Seeds |
Each category’s top finisher received $1,500. Second-place winners received $500; third-place, $250; and fourth-place winners, $100 each.
In addition, two Quality Counts Awards were awarded for quality forage production; however, the criteria for selection are unknown to contestants at the time of entry. This year’s Hay/Haylage and Corn Silage winners were selected based on uNDF, undigestible neutral detergent fiber. CROPLAN By Winfield presented each winner with $1,000. The top entry for the Quality Counts Corn Silage was Maple Downs Farm II, Middleburg, N.Y. In the Quality Counts Hay/Haylage category, S and S Dairy of Royalton, Minn. topped the category.
Growers from across the U.S. and Canada were invited to send their best samples in either dairy or commercial divisions. Dairy samples are judged on lab analysis (60%), visual judging (30%), and calculated milk per ton (10%). Commercial entries are judged on lab analysis (70%) and visual judging (30%). Visual judging consists of analyzing the color, texture, maturity and leafiness, depending on the category. Dairyland Laboratories, located in DePere, WI, tested the samples.
Sponsors of the 2014 World Forage Analysis Superbowl include category sponsors Ag-Bag, Agri-King, Barenbrug USA, Blue River Hybrids, CROPLAN By WinField, Kemin, Kuhn North America, Mycogen Seeds, NEXGROW alfalfa and W-L Research. Additional support is provided by the National Hay Association as our Silver Sponsor.
Organizing partners for this year’s contest include DairyBusiness Communications; Dairyland Laboratories, Inc.; Hay & Forage Grower; U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center; University of Wisconsin-Madison; and World Dairy Expo.
The top five placings from each category are:
Grand Champion Baleage – Sponsored by Agri-King
1st Place – Herbert Mast, Reedsville, Wisconsin
2nd Place – Olson Farms, Lena, Wisconsin
3rd Place – Flannery-Vu Holstein, Argyle, Wisconsin
4th Place – Katherine Guither, Walnut, Illinois
5th Place –Hardrock Farms, Wheatland, Wyoming
Grand Champion Commercial Hay – Sponsored by NEXGROW Alfalfa
1st Place – David Hinman, Wheatland, Wyoming
2nd Place – Leon Dunn, St Johns, Kansas
3rd Place – Berney Ranch Inc., Okanogan, Washington
4th Place – Kamps Alfalfa Farms, Darlington, Wisconsin
5th Place –Mackinnon Farms LLC, Thorntown, Indiana
Grand Champion Dairy Hay – Sponsored by W-L Research
1st Place – Evergreen View Dairy, Waldo, Wisconsin
2nd Place – Rainbows End Dairy, Waldo, Wisconsin
3rd Place – KMR Dairy Inc., Onarga, Illinois
4th Place – Mike McNamara, Emerald, Wisconsin
5th Place –Linnemeier Farms, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Grand Champion Grass Hay – Sponsored by Barenbrug USA
1st Place – Rosedale Seeds, Oxford, Wisconsin
2nd Place – College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri
3rd Place – Danko Farm, Powell, Wyoming
4th Place – Tiltrum Farm, Wheatland, Wyoming
5th Place –Hardrock Farm, Wheatland, Wyoming
Grand Champion Haylage – Sponsored by Ag-Bag
1st Place – S and S Dairy, Royalton, Minnesota
2nd Place – Holst Farms, Lake City, Minnesota
3rd Place – Corner Oak Farm, Grand Blanc, Michigan
4th Place – Bru Hill Dairy Ltd., Argyle, Wisconsin
5th Place –Montan Farms LLC, Minerva, Ohio
Grand Champion Standard Corn Silage – Sponsored by Blue River Hybrids
1st Place – John McClelland Jr., Viroqua, Wisconsin
2nd Place – Pasch Dairy, Weidman, Michigan
3rd Place – Olson Farms, Lena, Wisconsin
4th Place – Hickory Corners Dairy, Hickory Corners, Michigan
5th Place – Walt Wessel, Greely, Iowa
Grand Champion BMR Corn Silage – Mycogen Seeds
1st Place – Champion Dairy, Clinton, New York
2nd Place – Atwater Farms, Barker, New York
3rd Place – Misty Hollow Farms, Athens, Wisconsin
4th Place – Mike Davy, Rubicon, Wisconsin
5th Place – Sand Creek Dairy LLC, Hastings, Michigan
