How much does a round bale of corn stalks cost?
As far as prices for cornstalk bales, it varies a lot by location, time of year and size of bale. Range would probably be between $30 and $50 for bedding quality to good feeding quality.
Will cows eat corn stalk bales?
Most bales had pretty good TDN levels, often close to 55 percent. Cows fed these bales should do very well up until calving with just corn stalk bales and adequate protein supplement. Cows fed these lower quality bales will need some extra energy, too.
Can I bale corn stalks?
Baling corn stalks not only wastes time and money, it robs the soil of needed carbon. make a $4 bale of corn stalks. It just doesn’t make sense to mow, rake, bale and transport an almost worthless feed. the most valuable asset on the farm – the soil.
What do farmers do with dead corn stalks?
There are two primary uses of leftover residue for livestock benefit: grazing cattle on the leftover residue and baling the residue for bedding. Grazing cattle on the residue helps prolong feeding hay to the cattle.
Do they bale corn stalks?
Corn stalk bales can provide much needed feed over the winter. To use them most effectively, you’ll want to find out what they have to offer nutritionally. Sample and test your bales as soon as possible so when snow gets deep or other feeds run out you will already know how to best feed your corn stalk bales.
What do farmers do with corn stalks?
What can you do with dead corn stalks after harvest? Corn stalks can be repurposed as mulch, compost, decorations, or feed for animals. You are saving yourself from potential bug outbreaks, garden eyesores, and ensure that your soil stays nice and healthy by removing the stovers before winter.
What do farmers do with all the corn stalks?
Corn on the farm during harvest. The waste leftover from corn harvest is the stalk left behind standing in the field. Leaving the leftover stalks replenishes the soil with much needed organic material as well as serving as a cover crop preventing soil erosion during the harsh winter months.
What is a bale of corn stalks called?
Corn stover consists of the leaves, stalks, and cobs of maize (corn) (Zea mays ssp. mays L.) Such stover makes up about half of the yield of a corn crop and is similar to straw from other cereal grasses; in Britain it is sometimes called corn straw.
How are corn stalks used to make bales?
Making corn stalk bales is a time consuming process and the cost to produce bales usually outweighs the return on investment. When corn is harvested, the stalks are pulled down through the corn headers and the ears are stripped off and run through the machine where the kernels are removed from the cob.
What’s the nutritional value of corn stalk bales?
From a nutritional standpoint, corn stalk bales are typically even lower quality than straw. Even if being selective with what we harvest by only baling the 2-3 rows behind the combine, we can only count on around 5% crude protein and up to 45% total digestible nutrients (TDN).
Is it good to feed cows Cornstalk bales?
Cows fed these lower quality bales will need some extra energy, too. Drought stressed corn that was put up as hay may have higher energy and protein values depending upon the stage of maturity of the plant. In the video below Rick Rasby explains how to test cornstalk bales.
What should the TDN level be on corn bales?
Most bales had pretty good TDN levels, often close to 55 percent. Cows fed these bales should do very well up until calving with just corn stalk bales and adequate protein supplement. However, some stalks were rained on before baling and were below 50 percent TDN.