GLASGOW, Ky. – Kentucky State University’s Hay Testing Lab is helping farmers quickly verify forage quality so they can make better feeding and management decisions, officials said.

Located at the university’s Cooperative Extension Office in Glasgow in Barren County – recognized for having Kentucky’s highest cattle numbers – the facility provides accurate testing, combined with expert guidance to support producers, officials added.

“Forages and hay are some of Kentucky’s most profitable agricultural commodities and occupy the largest acreage in the state,” said Abbigail Hines, Kentucky State assistant professor of animal science, in a March 6 media statement. “Not to mention that with livestock production central to Kentucky agriculture, forage quality, and therefore forage quality testing, directly influences farm economics.”

According to officials, since the lab opened in May 2025, it has analyzed nearly 700 hay and forage samples for more than 120 producers across 26 Kentucky counties, with numbers growing weekly, delivering timely results and practical guidance that help strengthen feed and management decisions.

Officials said the volume and county-by-county reach show the need for accessible testing and consultation extends well beyond Barren County, especially in a state where hay and forage underpin Kentucky’s livestock economy, occupying nearly 1.8 million acres across about 37,000 farms, and forage quality directly influences livestock performance and farm profitability.

Offered free of charge to Kentucky producers, the service has trained professionals to help farmers translate results into next steps for rations, hay marketing, and future cutting, fertilization and storage decisions, officials added.

“Using near-infrared spectroscopy technology, the lab quickly measures key nutritional components such as relative feed value, crude protein, and mineral content,” the statement said. “It can also help identify concerns tied to nitrates and mycotoxin contamination.

“Producers cannot improve forage quality after baling, but they can use testing to make better decisions with what they have,” the statement added. “Reliable results and interpretation help match hay to animal needs, reduce costly guesswork in supplementation, and protect both performance and margins.”

Marcus Bernard, Kentucky State dean of the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, said farmers and agricultural professionals helped shape the lab’s design after citing limited access to quality testing and inconsistent help interpreting results.

“From multiple sources, especially from area farmers and ag professionals, we learned about the opportunity to positively impact farmers by increasing both cost-savings and profitability through hay and forage testing,” he said. “We see this service as a bottom-line support.”

Avinash Tope, Kentucky State associate dean for academics in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, said the university built the lab around that producer feedback, pairing high-precision analysis with interpretation and consultation so results translate into decisions producers can use immediately.

“Realizing the limited availability of services and the potential revenue loss to our farmers, we are jumping in to help them realize the full economic potential of their hay, feed, and forages with high precision analysis of these products,” he said.

He told Farm World the need for the lab became clear in early 2024, when producers in Western Kentucky identified a lack of convenient local hay-testing options: “Kentucky State then worked with Extension personnel and consulted with colleagues and specialists elsewhere on equipment selection. Startup costs for the analyzer and supporting equipment were approximately $120,000, supported through USDA Extension funds.”

Hines told Farm World producers may submit samples directly through the Barren County Extension office or by working with their local extension agent.

“To help ensure accurate and consistent sampling, Kentucky State developed a Hay and Forage Sampling Guide that provides a straightforward, step-by-step process for collecting, packaging, and either shipping, or dropping off samples. Producers are also welcome to contact the lab if they need additional information or guidance,” she said, adding, “turnaround is typically no more than one week from submission to results, and often less.”

Barren County Extension Agents Jacob Hall and Tyler London told Farm World in a joint statement, “Producers value having access to a free, local service that not only delivers results quickly, but also helps them understand what those results mean. Many appreciate that it is not simply a lab report. They can ask questions, receive expert consultation, and use the information to make more informed decisions within their operations.”

The hay testing lab is located at 107 Myrtle Street in Glasgow. For more information, contact the Barren County Extension at (270) 282-0982, or reach out to Tyler London at Tyler.London@kysu.edu, or Jacob Hall at Jacob.Hall@kysu.edu.