[en] We study J/ψ production at fixed-target energies, including the color-octet production mechanisms predicted by NRQCD. In an earlier paper, we found that the octet components were crucial in understanding p_T-integrated forward (x_F>0) cross sections. Here we make a detailed comparison of the theoretical predictions with measured x_F distributions from fixed-target experiments. We find that the model predictions agree well with data. Taking into account higher orders in NRQCD, we argue that σ(χ₁)/σ(χ₂)=0.6, in excellent agreement with data. Similiar arguments also predict that σ(χ)/σ(J/ψ) is roughly equal in photo- and hadroproduction. copyright 1997 The American Physical Society