Corn Residue Utilization in the USA.

Corn (Zea maysL.) residue, or stover is a simple and economical practice that integrates crops and livestock.  Corn residues have been used for decades as livestock bedding, for grazing, or harvested as supplemental feed for beef and non-lactating dairy animals.  However,  limited information is available on how widespread this is practiced by U.S. producers. In 2010, the USDA-ERS surveyed corn producers from 19 states that represent 93% of US planted corn acres regarding corn grain and  residue management practices.  Grazing constituted the majority of corn residue utilization with 3.18 million ha while 0.8 million ha of residues were harvested. The majority of grazed corn residue was in the western Corn Belt with Nebraska having the highest total at 1.87 million ha.   Both Nebraska and Colorado corn producers had significant residue utilization with approximately 51% and 49% of their total corn acres subsequently used for either grazing or baling, respectively. Average grazing days for the top five corn residue grazing states ranged from 32 to 54 days (mean= 44 days). Baling of corn residue primarily occurred in the central and northern Corn Belt.  Iowa was first in baled residue at 223,785 ha followed by Minnesota (108,176 ha) and Wisconsin (94,096 ha). Survey results suggest continued and long-term agronomic and soil research from grazing and baling corn residue.