Forage Testing

The Dairy One Forage Lab

Forage testing is conducted by Dairy One Lab in Ithaca. 

About the Forage Laboratory

The Dairy One Forage Lab excels in providing you with high-quality analyses and customer service. Every day, samples arrive at the lab from around the globe. Individual producers, agriservice personnel, consultants, veterinarians, universities, and zoos are among the many types of people and organizations satisfying their analytical needs at Dairy One. As an international leader, our goal is to provide you with analytical services designed to meet the expanding demands of modern agriculture. New technology and traditional methods are combined to deliver fast, accurate results.

All forage testing is conducted by Dairy One Lab in Ithaca.

Taking a Sample

An analysis is only as good as the sample submitted. Taking a good representative sample of your feed is the first and most critical step of the analysis process, yet it is often the step that is taken for granted. Following good sampling procedures will provide analytical results that reflect the true nutrient composition of your sample and will be useful in developing your feeding program. Poorly taken samples can result in costly decisions that lead to over or underfeeding.

The key to submitting a good sample is to collect several subsamples to form a composite. Remember, the one-pound sample that you submit for analysis is going to represent several tons of feed. Thus, you want to be sure that it represents a good cross-section of the feed, not just one bale.

For detailed instructions on taking a sample, refer to Collecting a Forage Sample. Please include a completed copy of the Forage Sample Submission Form when submitting samples.

Master Forage Probe

Corn and hay crop silages are valuable commodities on dairy farms. Measuring silage density is a good way to determine how well the silage is packed. A good fermentation relies on proper packing to exclude oxygen. Inadequate packing in bunk silos, trenches, piles, and ag bags can lead to nutrient loss and spoilage, thereby lowering feeding value and potential milk production.

Submitting a Sample

Here is the CCEDC forage testing process:

1. Farmers come into the office and purchase a kit. Those who need to borrow the hay core sampler to obtain their sample may do so. There is a refundable deposit of $30.00 required to borrow the core sampler. When the core sampler is returned, the $30.00 will be applied toward the testing (kit).
2. A completed copy of the Forage Sample Submission Form must be submitted along with samples.
3. Emailed results are sent to both the farmer and CCEDC Horticulture Dept. 

Results available in a timely manner

Average turnaround time for results varies from 24 hours to 10 business days, depending on the package requested. For NIR packages, you can expect your results typically within 24 hours of lab reception. However, for wet chemistry fiber digestibility, it will take a minimum of 10 days due to the 240-hour fermentation time.

If you would like to purchase a Forage Sample Testing kit through our CCE Millbrook office, please call the office to make sure someone will be available to help you at 845-667-8223 ext 115.

Last updated October 28, 2025