Understanding the Impacts of Grazing and Baling Corn Residue on Subsequent Crop Yields Across Various Soil Types with Different Erosion Potential

2016 Annual Report for LNC13-354

Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2013: $199,059.00
Projected End Date: 11/01/2017
Grant Recipient: Unversity of Nebraska
Region: North Central
State: Nebraska
Project Coordinator:
Dr. Rick Rasby
Unversity of Nebraska

Understanding the Impacts of Grazing and Baling Corn Residue on Subsequent Crop Yields Across Various Soil Types with Different Erosion Potential

Summary

  1. Presented data collected in the NCSARE funded project at 3 National Meetings.
  2. Presented data collected in the NCSARE funded project at 3 meeting in Nebraska.
  3. Presented data collected in the NCSARE funded project at 6 Field Days hosted by project cooperators and University of Nebraska Extension.
  4. Graduate students that have their Master’s program centered around the NCSARE funded project published 2 abstracts using data collected in the NCSARE project.
  5. Graduate students wrote 3 reports that will appear in the 2017 Nebraska Beef Report.
  6. Faculty wrote, using the survey data collected for the NCSARE funded project, a newsletter article that appeared in CropWatch.
  7. Our team submitted a manuscript that is currently under review – Journal of Extension.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Project Objectives:

  1. Determine the effects of corn residue grazing and baling on subsequent grain yield and soil productivity.
  2. Deliver a database on grain yield and soil productivity as affected by residue removal under rain-fed and irrigated fields with differing erosion potentials.
  3. Determine the effects of utilizing cover crop grazing as a part of a livestock-cropping system on subsequent yield and animal performance.
  4. Deliver technology transfer and improved educational methods that include producers as cooperators and presenters on the impact of corn residue removal on subsequent yield and the use of cover crops in corn fields.
  5. Deliver guidelines for crop residue management for livestock production

 

Objective #1. Our data says that grazing as a corn residue removal mechanism, according to UNL grazing recommendations, does not reduce subsequent corn or soybean yield, and does not result in compaction. Corn residue removal using baling, removes nutrients and can result in wind and water erosion.

Objective #2. Data collected in this project adds to a larger data base collected over many years that removal of corn residue by grazing does not result in a reduction in subsequent. Our data were collected in different landscapes and soil types using similar tillage practices.

Objective #3. Cover crops and grazing cover crops have not had a negative impact on grain yield. Using a cover crop mix of turnips, radishes, oats and rye, weaned calf performance ranged from 1.5 to 2.3 lb/hd/da. Cover crop establishment depends on moisture and environmental temperature and we have had success when planting after silage and high moisture corn harvest or wheat harvest in July.

Objective #4. Data has been shared in 8 scientific and non-scientific publications, 7 state and national meetings, 1 newsletter, and 6 field days.

Objective #5. Will be fully addressed after fall 2016 and spring 2017 field data is collected.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Publications:   

Cox, J.L., K.M. Ulmer, M.K. Rakkar, L. Franzen-Castle, H. Blanco-Canqui, M.E. Drewnoski, J.C. MacDonald, and R.J. Rasby. 2017. Perceptions of crop consultants and producers on grazing corn residue in Nebraska. Journal of Extension. (Journal of Extension: In Reviewing Process).

Cox, J.L., K.M. Ulmer, M.K. Rakkar, L. Franzen-Castle, H. Blanco-Canqui, M.E. Drewnoski, J.C. MacDonald, and R.J. Rasby. 2017. Perceptions of crop consultants and producers on grazing corn residue in Nebraska. Nebraska Beef Report. (Accepted).

Ulmer, K.M., J.L. Cox, M.K. Rakkar, R.G. Bondurant, H. Blanco-Canqui, M.E. Drewnoski, K.H. Jenkins, J.C. MacDonald, and R.J. Rasby. 2017. Effect of Corn Residue Grazing or Baling on Subsequent Crop Yield and Nutrient Removal. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. (Accepted)

Rakkar, M.K., H. Blanco-Canqui, R.J. Rasby, M.E. Drewnoski, J.C. MacDonald, K.M. Ulmer, and J.L. Cox. 2017. Regional Assessment of Cattle Grazing and Baling of Corn Residues in Nebraska: Implications on Soil Ecosystem Services. Nebraska Beef Report. (Accepted).

Ulmer, K.M., J.L. Cox, M.K. Rakkar, R.G. Bondurant, H. Blanco-Canqui, M.E. Drewnoski, K.H. Jenkins, J.C. MacDonald, and R.J. Rasby. Effect of Corn Residue Grazing or Baling on Subsequent Crop Yield and Nutrient Removal. Abstract at 2016 ADSA/ASAS Joint Animal Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. July 2016.

Cox, J.L., K.M. Ulmer, M. Rakkar, L. Franzen-Castle, H. Blanco-Canqui, M.E. Drewnoski, J.C. MacDonald, and R.J. Rasby. 2016. Perceptions of crop consultants and producers in Nebraska on grazing corn residue. Abstract at 2016 Midwest Section Meeting ASAS in Des Moines, Iowa. March 16.

https://www.animalsciencepublications.org/publications/jas/abstracts/94/supplement2/28?search-result=1

doi:10.2527/msasas2016-061.

Nebraska Farmer Perspectives on Grazing Corn Residue. 2016. Mary Drewnoski, Beef Systems Specialist, Animal Science, Jordan Cox, Graduate Student, Animal Science, Jim MacDonald, Associate Professor of Animal Science, Ruminant Nutrition, Humberto Blanco, Associate Professor of Agronomy, Soil Management, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Nutrition Specialist, Nutrition and Health Science, Rick Rasby, Beef Specialist, Animal Science. March 1, 2016.

http://cropwatch.unl.edu/nebraska-farmer-perspectives-grazing-corn-residue

Meetings:

  1. 2016 Regional Assessment of Cattle Grazing and Baling of Corn Residues in Nebraska: Implications on Soil Ecosystem Services. Manbir Kaur Rakkar, Kristen M. Ulmer and Jordan L. Cox, Humberto Blanco, Rick Rasby, Mary E. Drewnoski, James C. MacDonald. Phoenix, AZ, Nov 6-9, 2016 (ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Annual Meeting).2016 16th Annual Nebraska Grazing Conference in Kearney, NE August 9-10, 2016. http://grassland.unl.edu/nebraskagrazingconference
  2. 2016 Clay Center group meeting in Clay Center, NE, August 2, 2016.
  3. 2016 ADSA/ASAS Joint Animal Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 19-23 2016.
  4. 2016 Midwest Section Meeting ASAS in Des Moines, IA, March 16, 2016.
  5. 2016 Beef Committee Meetings in Mead, NE, May 10-11, 2016.
  6. 2015 Beef Committee Meetings in Ainsworth, NE, May 11-13, 2015.
  7. 2015 Toured the USMARC sites at the 2015 Farmer and Ranchers Cow/Calf College, February 17, 2015.

 

Field Days

 Site

Location to meet

Date

   

Program Time

Scottsbluff

Mitchell Farm
Lionel Harris Building
on Experiment Farm Road

October,27, 2016

   

11:00 p.m.

Nebraska City

Fire Hall
Julian, NE 68378

October 20, 2016

   

5:45 p.m.

Odessa

Buffalo County Extension Office
1400 E 34th St, Kearney, NE 68847

Sept. 28, 2016

   

6:00 p.m.

Clay Center

USMARC
Building 1 Auditorium
NE-18D Spur, Clay Center, NE 68933

Sept. 28, 2016

   

2:00 p.m.

Norfolk

Northeast Community College
Chuck Pohlman Agriculture Complex
2301 East Benjamin Ave
Norfolk NE 68702

Sept, 27, 2016

   

6:00 p.m.

Ainsworth

4 miles North on Old Highway 7, Ainsworth, NE 68210

Sept, 27, 2016

   

1:00 p.m.

Presentations at Field Days:

Effect of Grazing and Baling Corn Residue on Corn Yield

Effect of Grazing and Baling Corn Residue on Soil Components

Survey Results: What Do Crop Consultants and Grain Producers Think About Grazing Corn Residue

 

 

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

These findings were shared with students, producers, industry, faculty and scientists at other universities.

  1. Our data says that there is no reduction in corn yield following residue removal by grazing.
  2. Our data says that there is no reduction in soybean yield when the field is in a corn-soybean rotation and the corn residue is removed by grazing.
  3. There is water and wind erosion when residue is removed by baling.
  4. Baling removes nutrient, but short-term data says no reduction in yield. Research team would like to see more years of data in the impact of residue removal by baling.
  5. Grazing corn residue, using stocking rates recommended by the University of Nebraska, does not result in compaction.

Producers can now make more informed decisions about residue removal and the impact on subsequent yield. Our team, using these data and more long-term data, would conclude that if UNL corn residue grazing recommendations are used, there is no reduction in yield.

Collaborators:

Dr. Humberto Blanco

hblanco2@unl.edu
Assistant Professor
Unversity of Nebraska
261 PLSH
Lincoln, NE 68583-0915
Office Phone: 4024721510
Dr. Jim MacDonald

jmacdonald2@unl.edu
Associate Professor
Unversity of Nebraska
C204j Animal Science Building
Lincoln, NE 68583-0908
Office Phone: 4024726780
Brent Johnson

Producer Cooperator
1608 South 66 Road
Nebraska City, NE 68410
Office Phone: 4022090969
Ken Hubbert

Producer Cooperator
14410 78th Road
Kearney, NE 68845
Office Phone: 3082377272
Brent Plugge

brent.plugge@unl.edu
Extension Educator
Unversity of Nebraska
1400 E 34th
Kearney, NE 68847-3992
Office Phone: 3088721235
Steve Bejot

Producer Cooperator
88023-437 Avenue
Ainsworth, NE 69210
Office Phone: 4023872236
Gary Lesoing

gary.lesoing@unl.edu
Extension Educator
Unversity of Nebraska
1824 N Street, Suite 102
Auburn, NE 68305-2395
Office Phone: 4022744755
Dr. Rick Rasby

rrasby1@unl.edu
Professor and Beef Specialist
Unversity of Nebraska
c204C Animal Science Building
Lincoln, NE 68583-0908
Office Phone: 4024726477
Jason Gross

jason.gross@unl.edu
Engineering Tec/Project Coordinator
Unversity of Nebraska
1400 E 34th
Kearney, NE 68845
Office Phone: 3088651594
Hilary Maricle

hilary@northeast.edu
Assistant Dean - Agriculture
Northeast Community College
801 E Benjamin Ave.
PO Box 469
Norfolk, NE 68702-0469
Office Phone: 4028447187
Dennis Bauer

dbauer1@unl.edu
Extension Educator
Unversity of Nebraska
148 West 4th Street
Ainsworth, NE 69210-1696
Office Phone: 4023872065
Dr. Karla Jenkins

kjenkins2@unl.edu
Assistant Professor
Unversity of Nebraska
4502 Avenue I
PHREC
Scottsbluff, NE 69361-4939
Office Phone: 3086321245
Dr. John Pollak

john.plollak@ars.usda.gov
Director
Meat Animal Research Center
844 Road 313, State Spur 18 D
Clay Center, NE 68933
Office Phone: 4027624100