On a windy day almost anywhere in Alberta’s 19 million acres of choice cropland, there is a significant soil erosion risk in the absence of standing, anchored stubble without snow cover. Fortunately many farmers have said “never again!”…and made good on their promise, seeing immediate and long-term profit by adopting reduced tillage. However, planning ahead still remains crucial for success. It means more than just a change in seeding practice.
As residue cover is to eliminating erosion, so too is residue management in capturing the full benefit of growing crops by direct seeding. Key agronomy points to keep in mind are:
1. Sufficient crop residue will insulate the soil, conserve moisture, recycle nutrients, and impair weeds.
2. Inadequate straw and chaff distribution will interfere with direct seeding.
3. Extra field operations will mess with the first 2 points (fall tillage, harrowing, etc).
Once disturbed by tillage or gathered and improperly spread, crop residues create seeding problems such as hair pinning and plugging of no-till drills, resulting in poor seed-to soil contact and delayed crop emergence. Bunched layers of straw and chaff shade the seedbed, impede early weed control, and tie up plant-available nitrogen resulting in reduced crop yield.
HANDLING EXCESS CROP RESIDUE
The most practical and cost effective method to manage crop residue is with the combine. A straw and chaff spreader should match the width of cut in a bumper crop or the most difficult conditions, something that new models are now only beginning to address. To overcome older combine crop residue handling inefficiencies, innovative farm-built systems and after-market products can be quite effective and relatively inexpensive. The specifications for chaff, straw or both, the spread patterns, and the power requirement vary between units. A little winter shop-time for a residue management upgrade would be well spent (see accompanying chart for comparison).
Other no-till ways to handle excess crop residue include harrowing, periodic baling, and collecting chaff. Usually this involves the cost and time for extra machinery. Crop rotations can be planned to avoid planting high residue cereal crops back to back, and to alternate with low residue or faster decomposing crops like canola and peas. Short-stature varieties and forage crops in rotation help. Overall soil quality can be better maintained if composted manure is returned to the land.
Newest on the direct seeding residue landscape is a growing interest in straight-cut and stripper-headers to attain even greater harvest efficiencies with a combine. Separation and residue discharge are superior because reduced amounts of straw enter the threshing unit, resulting in more acres per hour and less fuel per bushel. This outcome compliments no-till only if the seeding unit is compatible, something that not all contemporary machines are capable of (yet). In this context, a new dialogue has begun that potentially raises the residue management bar even higher.
The on-going task of managing farm costs for equipment and crop inputs requires diligence and a headful of new ideas. Finding weak-links in new operations is essential
before worse problems arise. While most direct seeders won’t say “My seeder can seed into anything…” Tony Brummelhuis does. He is only one of several RTL
Feature Farmers who share their experience for success.
Straw and chaff management is just one of the critical steps in putting together a fully functional and successful direct seeding system. Hundreds of helpful links for current information are readily available from the Reduced Tillage LINKAGES
Agronomy Library. Regional agronomists can match farmers with questions to those with solutions
Direct Seeding Network (free).
Comparison Chart for Straw & Chaff Spreaders*
| Brand Name |
Spread Pattern |
Comments |
|
Kirby
Dutch Industries
Pilot Butte, Sk
(306) 781-4820 |
40' to 50' depending whether spreading just chaff or both and straw moisture conditions |
Primarily for chaff spreading but cone adapter can be fitted for straw spreading.
Plumb into hydraulics of pickup. Gleaner combines must have straw spreader.
Sales not sure of horsepower requirements. |
|
Redekop
Saskatoon, Sk
(306) 931-6664 |
35' to 40' varying with straw moisture conditions |
Spreads both chaff and straw.
Easily adapted to new models of Case IH, New Holland TR96-98 series and John Deere.
Will not fit older Massey combines like 760 or 860 models. Require 25 -35 horsepower. |
|
Agri-Tech Mgr.
(formerly Urvold)
P.O. Box 87
Noblesford, AB
T0L 1S0
(403) 824-3737 |
40' varying with straw and chaff moisture conditions
|
Straw and chaff blower. Requires 9.5 to 11.5 hp.
Does not fit older combines such as 760 or 860 Massey but will work on newer Massey, John Deere, Case/IH and New Holland makes. |
|
REM
REM Manufacturing
Box 1207
Swift Current, Sk
(306) 773-0644 |
30' or more varying with straw and chaff moisture conditions
|
Pneumatic chaff spreader that is belt driven. Massey 750, 860, JD 95, 96, 7720 and 8820. |
|
Hurricane
Kayline Rep Sales
701 - 9th St. East
Saskatoon, Sk
1-800-525-8189 |
30' varying with straw moisture conditions |
Primarily a chaff spreader. Maybe belt or hydraulic driven. Suggest a separate hydraulic pump and reservoir unit for Massey 760 or 860. |
|
Crary Cyclone
Apollo Distributing
P.O. Box 528
White City, Sk.
(306)781-2644 |
24' to 30' varying with straw moisture conditions and weight of chaff |
Primarily a chaff spreader.
For Massey 750, 760 or 860 suggest single spinner.
For NH TX 66 or TX 68 need cooler for hydraulics.
IH 1992 60 series, 1688 and 2100 combines need special hydraulic adapters. |
|
Rodono Rotor
Rodono Industries
Clive, AB T0C 0Y0
(403) 784-3864 |
30' varying with straw moisture conditions |
Upgrade for straw spreader.
Thicker walled rotor replaces drum. Double number of knives.
Get finer cut and more wind.
Belt driven so horsepower requirements are about the same. |
|
Mandako
Mandako Agri Marketing
Box 95
Plum Coulee, MB
R0G 1R0
(204)829-3348
1-888 -525-5892 |
30' varying with straw and moisture conditions and weight of chaff |
Hydraulic driven, single spinner. Unit swings to side to allow adjustment to sieves.
On Massey combines before 1981 hydraulics plumbed into power steering pump.
After 1981 plumbed into hydrostatic pump. |
|
Spreadmaster
Stewart Steel Inc.
Weyburn, Sk.
(306) 842-4411 |
Not stated |
Chaff spreader built for IH 1680 combines exclusively.
Direct drive from current spreader. |
| * Information subject to changed - Reviewed February 2009 |
Unit Package retail prices and adaptability will vary for each combine model, depending on extra hardware such as pumps and hoses.
Vittetoe; Love; Horvick; F/S Manufacturing; are other models of chaff and straw spreaders which are manufactured in the United States and may or may not still be available.
