Upcoming classes & events
Forage Weeks in Missoula County
WHAT IS FORAGE WEEKS? Schedule an MSU Extension agent to come to your haystack and teach you how to sample forages! For two focused weeks in August the Agriculture, Equine, and Livestock agent will be reserving time to come to you. She’ll teach you how to core samples, how to send in a representative sample to an appropriate laboratory and then explain how to interpret the results.
Questions that a Forage Test can answer…
1. Will the hay meet my animal’s nutrient requirements?
2. Is my forage high in non-structural carbohydrates?
3. Will my animals get fat or skinny on this hay?
4. How should I supplement this winter?
5. Did my hay growing and harvesting program get the results that I wanted?
Want to do it yourself? Rent the Penn State Forage Probe for free, get forms and lab links, and get help interpreting the results. The probe is rentable for a 48-hour period throughout the year. You must pick up and drop off at the Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension 1075 South Avenue West, Missoula, MT 59801.
*A NOTE ABOUT NITRATE TESTING: A reminder that you must schedule an in-office appointment to have your forages tested for nitrates. The Nitrate Strip Testing is FREE at the MCDEE office.
