Researchers at the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute say farmers
shouldn’t be overly concerned about removing too much straw from their
fields this fall.
Producers who are lucky enough to have crops to combine should have a
market for straw bales, due to the lack of feed and straw in many parts
of the Prairies.
But some farmers worry that removing too much straw from the land will
reduce their ability to trap snow, add fibre to the soil and hold
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Results from a new PAMI study show those fears are unfounded. When
normal practices are followed, only 48 percent of total available wheat
straw is removed during baling. The remaining 52 percent is returned to
the land.
“If you think you’re taking a whole lot of straw off your land, you’re
only taking half of it,” said Darrell Lischynski, PAMI’s manager of
energy and processing.
“So half is still available as organic matter.”
Researchers cut a portion of the wheat crop at ground level with
scissors, weighed the sample, and determined how many tonnes per acre
that represented. They then swathed, combined and baled the crop and
measured how much mass per acre were in the bales.
Between stubble, the leaves that fall off and the small pieces the
baler can’t pick up, half of the straw remains.
Also, the roots are left behind, which are important sources of organic
matter.
Lischynski said the percentage of straw left after baling varies with
cutting height, combine type, straw length and other factors.
Because of this year’s feed and straw shortage, Lischynski said
producers who decide to get out the baler should make sure they use
good bale storage practices.
PAMI research has shown that 40 percent of straw could be lost in
untarped stacks due to spoilage over a 14 month period.
Lischynski also said many farmers tarp their bales, but don’t bother to
look after them.
“If you’re losing 40 percent of your straw, not only do you not get to
use it, but you’ve got to do something with this 40 percent of the
straw – haul it back to the field or whatever because it’s now in the
way.”
Unprotected straw can rot and will no longer absorb water, rendering it
useless as bedding for cattle. It can also become weathered and
discoloured, which is no good for industrial purposes such as
strawboard.
The study also showed that round bales preserved straw quality and
quantity better than small square bales, partially because they shed
water better.
But the best way to preserve bales is to stack them on a layer of straw
and cover with a well-maintained tarp.
Lischynski said producers can’t just throw a battered tarp over the
stack and expect good quality straw a year later.
“If you don’t fix the holes, all it does is trap the water underneath.”
