Things to Consider When Baling Stalks
By Anthony Finke, Sales Agronomist/District Sales Manager

With the shortage of hay, many farmers have resorted to cornstalk bales as a supplemental feed for cattle herds. Now, with the number of ethanol plants that are coming online, the amount of corn gluten being fed to livestock is increasing dramatically. Livestock that consume corn gluten need more roughage, and much of this roughage is coming from cornstalk bales. In addition, producers growing continuous corn need to deal with extra stalk residue. These changes in production practices carry both economic and agronomic considerations.

What nutrients are lost in this process?
The removal rate of nitrogen is 13.6 lbs. per ton of dry stover (cornstalks) removed. For phosphorus it is 3.6 lbs. per ton and for potash, 19.7 lbs. per ton. The table below is an example of how much it will cost you to replace those lost nutrients.

These numbers can be multiplied by 2 tons/acre up to 4 tons/acre, depending on the percentage of stalks being removed. A quick add-up of these numbers looks like this: For every ton of cornstalks removed, it will cost you $9.95 to replace the nutrients. If you remove 3 tons per acre, you have $29.85/acre in lost nutrients. Although these values are somewhat theoretical, it helps to put a value on every decision because it can affect you in the long run.

There are other factors: For instance, some soils in Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota already contain fairly high levels of potash, but if you remove the stover year after year after year, it will become depleted. These nutrients can also sometimes be replaced for less money in the form of manure.

What about erosion from removing all the vegetation?
There are increased chances of wind erosion and runoff if cornstalks are removed. According to USDA guidelines, you should keep at least 30% coverage to protect against erosion, but it will vary with all the different field conditions that exist. So how much stover can be removed?

According to an article in The Carbohydrate Economy by Jim Hettenhaus,1 one ton of stover is produced per ton of grain. So on a 200-bushel/acre crop, approximately 5.6 tons of stover is produced on each acre. Following the USDA guidelines, you can remove up to 3.92 tons of stover/acre off this field.

In the same article, Hettenhaus also notes that surface cover primarily controls erosion and helps retain moisture. Organic matter in the soil comes primarily from the corn roots, not from surface cornstalks. This table can help you figure how many tons/acre can be removed versus corn yield/acre.

So where does the profitability come from?
Right now cornstalk bales are selling for $55 to $75 per ton delivered. With the wide range of breakeven costs, it is up to the individual to determine at what price to sell the bales. Stover bales can be an extra source of income that was not available in years past.

There may be other cost saving advantages to removing corn stover: There's the chance to avoid tillage in certain instances, which helps you conserve carbon, a topic of interest lately. Also, removing stover in the fall allows the soil to warm up faster in the spring and can ease planting concerns, especially if you are planting "corn on corn."

Are there any other drawbacks?
Besides nutrient removal costs, there are other drawbacks. If you are baling your own stalks, plan on putting a fair chunk of change back into the baler. The wear associated with baling stalks is tremendous. Extra trips across the field are another consideration. With extra trips you get added compaction. With added compaction you get less root penetration the following year, which results in decreased yields.

When is baling stalks not a good idea?
Feed quality is an important thing to consider. If the field has been damaged by drought, hail or stunted for some other reason, the nitrate levels may be too high to safely feed to cattle. If in doubt, get it tested. If it is less than 1400 ppm, it is safe to feed. If it gets any higher, you will have to blend it with other roughage, depending upon the levels of nitrate-nitrogen it has.

What role does traited seed play?
All the new technologies available in corn can really affect the production of corn stover. When planting a BtCRW corn, you are going to have healthier plants. As a result, you will have more cornstalks/acre produced and they will not be as dry right after harvest as with less healthy plants. If you are planning to bale your stalks in the fall, consider picking hybrids that are taller and healthier to ensure maximum profits.

What does all this mean for me?
If you are going to bale your cornstalks, be sure that it is a win-win situation for your farm's circumstances. Even with a premium price for stover bales, it might not be the best thing for a particular piece of ground.

To comment or for more information, send an email to: a.finke@hoegemeyer.com.

Credits:
Anthony Finke
Ward Laboratories

1Hettenhaus, Jim. "Talking About Corn Stover." The Carbohydrate Economy, Vol. 4, Issue 2 (2002).
Hettenhaus's credentials include a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin; an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from St. Louis University; senior official at Gist-brocades, Monsanto and Anheuser Busch overseeing the production of fine chemicals, commodity chemicals, food ingredients, fibers, enzymes and large scale fermentation products; and co-founder of three business start-ups in the areas of analytical instrumentation and control systems, membrane separation systems and nylon fiber manufacturing.