Contest categories include: Champion Grass Hay, sponsored by Barenbrug USA; Champion Dairy Hay, sponsored by Syngenta; Champion Dairy Haylage, sponsored by Kent Nutrition Group; Champion Commercial Baleage, sponsored by W-L Research; Champion Commercial Hay, sponsored by Bridon Cordage; Champion Standard Corn Silage, sponsored by Ag-Bag; and Champion Brown Midrib Corn Silage, sponsored by Mycogen Seeds.

All category winners will compete for the coveted Grand Champion Forage Producer honor and the $2,500 cash award, sponsored by NutriSave Forage Management System. In addition to the above categories, winners of the Quality Counts Hay/Haylage and Quality Counts Corn Silage categories will be named and each will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize, sponsored by Croplan Genetics. The Quality Counts category will be based on a predetermined quality factor, which will not be announced until World Dairy Expo.

Corn silage entrants are encouraged to select a corn silage sample now and simply store it in a 2-gallon air tight container in the freezer until August 18, 2011 when the entries are due. All corn silage entries must be from the 2010 growing season.

All other samples must be received at AgSource Laboratories in Bonduel, Wis. before September 7, 2011. Your $25 entry fee provides entry into the contest and the opportunity to win cash prizes, along with a detailed laboratory analysis of the sample. Participants may enter as often and in as many categories as desired; however, the Commercial Hay category is intended for hay growers who raise and sell hay for a living.