The Central Texas Hay Show is open to all hay producers in Burnet, Llano and Lampasas counties. This educational program and hay show will be held Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. at the Burnet County Fair Barn behind the Burnet Airport on Ellen Halbert Lane.

Private applicators can receive up to five CEUs by attending the educational portion of the program. The program will end with a hay show barbecue and awards program at 6:30 p.m. Registration is $10.

Entries in this year's hay show can be delivered to county Extension agents in each of the participating counties. Deadline is Oct. 2.

An entry will consist of a single square or round bale. The bale will be sampled for protein level and then auctioned off at the end of the show to offset the expenses of testing and the hay show program.

To make arrangements for entering hay, phone Wade Hibler, Burnet County Extension agent, at (512) 756-5463; Jason Byrd, Lampasas County Extension agent, at 556-8271; or Jamie Osbourn, County Extension agent, Llano, at (325) 247-5159.

Hay is a major portion of the roughage diet of many ruminant animals, so an evaluation of food value and protein content can help growers determine hay quality more easily, said Byrd. Livestock can then be fed according to hay value.

The Central Texas Hay Show provides an opportunity to compare different samples of hay and helps producers evaluate what makes high-quality hay, which can help with fertilizer decisions.

The CEU portion of the program will provide private, commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators with five CEUs (one in laws and regulations, one in integrated pest management, one in drift minimization, and two general).

Reservations are requested by Oct. 10.