More than $22,000 in cash prizes were awarded to top-finishing producers participating in this year's World Forage Analysis Superbowl. Producers submitted 468 entries in seven forage categories, representing 25 states and one Canadian province. The winners were announced Oct. 1 at the World Forage Analysis Superbowl Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Mycogen Seeds, at World Dairy Expo.

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.

Todd Schroeder, left, of Cashton won the Champion First-Time Entrant award and $1,500 from Kuhn North America of Brodhead. Presenting the check to Todd is Doug Williams of Kuhn North America.

The Grand Champion First-Time Entrant cash award of $1,500 went to Todd Schroeder, Cashton. The prize money was made possible by Kuhn North America.

Champions of the seven forage categories, and their sponsors, include several from Wisconsin:

•Herbert Mast of Reedsville had the Champion Baleage entry sponsored by Agri-King.

•Evergreen View Dairy of Waldo had the Champion Dairy Hay entry sponsored by W-L Research

•Rosedale Seeds of Oxford had the Champion Grass Hay entry sponsored by Barenbrug USA

•John McClelland, Jr., of Viroqua had the Champion Standard Corn Silage entry sponsored by Blue River Hybrids.

•David Hinman of Wheatland, Wyo, had the Champion Commerical Hay entry sponsored by Nexgrow Alfalfa.

•S and S Dairy of Royalton, Minn., had the Champion Haylage entry sponsored by Ag-Bag.

•Champion Dairy of Clinton, N.Y., had the Champion Brown Midrib Corn Silage entry sponsored by 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 De Pere, tested the samples.

Organizing partners for this year's contest include Hay & Forage Grower magazine; DairyBusiness Communications; Dairyland Laboratories, Inc.; U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center; University of Wisconsin-Madison; and World Dairy Expo.