Straw is not a primary crop but the dry stem byproduct (agricultural residue) remaining after cereal grains are harvested for their seeds. This material is distinct from hay, which is a forage crop intentionally cut and dried for high nutritional value animal feed. Straw is lower in nutrients and more fibrous, serving primarily as animal bedding, garden mulch, or construction material. Producing high-quality straw begins with cultivating a cereal grain crop, such as wheat or rye, intending to harvest both the grain and the residual stalks.
Selecting the Cereal Crop
The choice of cereal grain influences the quality and characteristics of the resulting straw, dictating its best use.
Wheat straw is the most common type, valued for its light color and durability. Its stiff, hollow stems make it suitable for animal bedding, as it discourages consumption by livestock, and for construction uses like straw bale building.
Rye straw is the most durable and longest-stemmed, making it excellent for thatching or long-lasting mulch. Oats and barley yield a softer, more absorbent straw that is often slightly more palatable to animals. Oat straw is effective for soaking up moisture in livestock stalls due to its porous nature, but it is less durable than wheat or rye.
Growers must select a crop variety based on the grain market, desired straw characteristics, and local climate. Winter wheat or rye, planted in the fall, establish deeper root systems and generally yield greater biomass, producing more straw than spring-planted varieties.
Planting and Initial Care
Successful straw production requires careful soil preparation to support the dense root system of a cereal crop. A soil test should guide any necessary amendments, targeting a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0 for optimal nutrient availability, especially for wheat and barley. Initial tillage prepares a fine seedbed, which is necessary to ensure consistent seed-to-soil contact and uniform emergence.
The timing of planting is important. Winter grains like wheat and rye must be sown in the fall, typically six to eight weeks before the first hard frost. This allows the plants to establish a strong root system before going dormant for the winter. Spring grains, such as oats and barley, should be planted as early as possible in the spring to capitalize on cool, moist conditions.
Seeding rates must be calibrated to achieve a dense stand, which maximizes straw volume and helps suppress weeds. For wheat, this often targets 1.2 to 1.6 million seeds per acre, placed consistently at a depth of 1 to 1.5 inches. Early care includes providing a starter fertilizer, often a blend with phosphorus and potassium, applied directly with the seed to support root development.
Nitrogen is the most significant nutrient, and its application is often split. A small amount is applied at planting, with the majority applied as a topdressing in the early spring during the rapid growth phase. This promotes vigorous growth without causing the stalks to become weak and prone to lodging (falling over). Weed control is managed early, often supplemented with targeted herbicide applications before the jointing stage.
Harvesting the Grain and Processing the Straw
The ultimate goal of straw production is achieved during the grain harvest, which must be timed precisely when the grain is mature and the stalks are fully dried. The crop is cut by a combine harvester, which simultaneously cuts the entire plant, separates the grain head from the stalk, and threshes the grain. The grain is collected, while the remaining stalks and chaff are expelled from the back of the machine.
The combine is equipped to lay the stalks down in a continuous line known as a windrow, rather than chopping and spreading the residue over the field. This windrow is the raw straw material and must be left to dry, or cure, in the sun and air for several days to reduce its moisture content. This curing process is necessary, as straw baled too wet risks internal heating, mold growth, and spontaneous combustion.
The final baling process should only occur once the straw moisture content is below 20% for small square bales and ideally under 17% for large square or round bales due to their greater density.
Bale Formats
Two common bale formats are used:
- Small square bales, typically weighing 35 to 60 pounds, are ideal for small-scale use and manual handling.
- Large round or large square bales, weighing hundreds of pounds, are more efficient for large commercial operations and require mechanized handling.
Proper storage is the final step to preserve the quality of the straw. Bales must be stored off the ground, often on pallets, gravel, or a plastic sheet, to prevent moisture from wicking up from the soil. Stacking the bales under a roof or covering them with a tarp protects them from rain and sunlight, which can cause spoilage and reduce the golden color desirable for premium straw.