By Andi Anderson
For Ohio farmers, poor hay quality has become a yearly challenge. Delayed harvests and unpredictable weather have once again resulted in low-nutrient forage across the state in 2025. This continuing issue is pushing farmers to rethink how they manage and use their forage supplies.
Last summer’s drought and this spring’s wet conditions delayed hay making, leading to over-matured hay with reduced nutritional value. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Ohio’s hay progress was less than half the normal pace by late May.
With June bringing little improvement, farmers are left with hay that offers little more nutrition than wheat straw.
For example, recent forage tests on mixed grass hay harvested in June showed only 52% Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) and a Relative Feed Value (RFV) of under 90. This low-quality hay fails to meet even a dry cow’s basic nutritional needs.
Feeding such hay for long periods may cause cows to lose body condition, delay breeding cycles, reduce calf weaning weights, and weaken calf health at birth.
To make the best use of poor-quality hay, Ohio State University (OSU) Extension advises farmers to test their forage. OSU’s forage testing program, running through July, can help farmers understand their hay’s value.
Testing allows farmers to group similar hay types for strategic feeding throughout the season.
Farmers are also encouraged to explore bunk feeding, supplementing with protein or energy when needed, and processing long-stem hay into smaller pieces to improve digestion.
OSU recommends chopping hay to two to six-inch pieces, which may boost daily forage intake by up to 30%.
Fertilizing pastures now can improve the quality of future hay cuttings. Monitoring forage quality and planning for supplements will help stretch supplies and support livestock health.
Ohio farmers know these challenges well — and experts suggest planning long-term for ongoing hay quality issues by testing, improving harvest practices, and growing additional forage when possible.
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Categories: Ohio, Crops, Hay & Forage