Corn Residue

Cattle in snow-covered corn residue
While fall and winter weathering can reduce its nutritional quality, cornstalks are still a great and economical winter feed source if supplementation is managed appropriately.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Tips for Cornstalk Grazing, Using Bad Hay and Silage

December 26, 2023
Considerations for grazing cornstalks with snow cover and utilizing low-quality hay and silage during periods of low supply and high feed costs.

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Cattle eating hay during winter
There are many factors to consider when deciding who should bear the cost of water for cattle grazing cornstalks — Nebraska Extension's NebGuide EC821 can help producers and landowners calculate the costs and come to an equitable solution. See below for more.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Water Costs for Grazing Cattle, Twine in Feed

December 12, 2023
Extension educators share recommendations for calculating the cost of water for cattle grazing on cornstalks, and highlight the risks associated with cattle ingesting twine or net wrap in hay feed.

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Cattle eating hay during winter
One of the cheapest natural sources of protein, alfalfa hay is highly digestible and can increase consumption of low-quality feeds, making it a great supplement for winter diets.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Considerations for Grazing After Fall Fertilizers, Using Alfalfa as Protein Supplement

December 6, 2023
Extension insights on grazing crop residue following fertilizer applications and using alfalfa as a protein supplement in winter feed.

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Field of corn residue
As rain, snow and wind throughout the fall and winter can reduce cornstalk quality, it's important for producers to adjust their supplementation programs accordingly.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Considerations for Grazing Corn Residue

November 14, 2023
Extension educators review the impacts of weather on cornstalk quality and the benefits of grazing corn residue for both cattle and crop producers.

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Cattle in snow-covered corn residue
Leaving stubble at the end of the growing season is a great way to catch snow, which will provide insulation to and prevent evaporation from the soil, protecting forages in the process.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Cornstalk Nutrition and Winter Forage Snow Cover

November 6, 2023
Insights on the nutritional value of cornstalk grazing and the importance of leaving stubble at harvest to help build snow cover.

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Cattle grazing corn residue
Sorghum stems are a little higher in quality than the corn stem, but care is still needed if cows are forced to graze the lower stems due to the potential of prussic acid toxicity immediately following a frost.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Grazing Grain Sorghum Stover and Corn Residue

October 26, 2023
A review of the pros and cons of grazing sorghum and corn residue, and how to maximize the nutritional benefits of each.

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Cattle grazing corn residue
When it comes to stalks residue, grain sorghum stover will retain nutrient grazing value longer than corn, so prioritize grazing corn residue first to achieve optimum nutrition.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Lease Agreement Conditions, Grazing Drought-stressed Crop Residue

September 27, 2023
Extension educators review important factors to consider when entering a land lease agreement, overgrazing pastures in preparation for interseeding legumes, and using drought-stressed crop residue as a feed source.

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Diagram of producers trading hay and manure
Trading crop residue bales for manure may seem like it should be a simple decision, but there are many factors that weigh into that decision, both financial and logistical in nature.

Trading Manure and Crop Residues, Considerations for a Fair Trade

September 14, 2023
Insights on how to initiate a fair trade of crop residue and manure between producers with respect to costs and logistics of the transaction for both parties.

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