Baling or grazing of corn residue does not reduce crop production in central United States

Corn (Zea Mays L.) residue can be used by cattle producers as a source of forage that can either be grazed or baled. While many studies have evaluated the impact of baling corn residue on subsequent crops, relatively few have evaluated the effect of grazing of corn residue. An on-farm multi-year study (3 or 4 yr) was conducted at six sites in the central United States to determine effects of grazing or baling of corn residue on subsequent grain yield. Most sites were under no-till management and were irrigated. Some locations were in continuous corn while others were in a corn–corn–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] or corn–soybean rotation. At each location, there were three corn residue treatments: no bale–no graze (CON), baled (BLD), and grazed (GZD) with two or three replicates per treatment. Baling and grazing management was dictated by the cooperating producer. In the spring, corn residue remaining in the CON (10.17 Mg ha ^–1 ) was greater (P < 0.01; SEM ± 0.449) than both GZD (8.68 Mg ha ^–1 ) and BLD (3.60 Mg ha ^–1 ) with GZD being greater (P < 0.01) than BLD. Residue management did not affect (P ≥ 0.26) subsequent grain yield (corn, soybean, or dry bean [Phaseolus vulgaris L.]). Corn yield ranged from 6.2 to 18.2 Mg ha ^–1 with a mean of 14.0 Mg ha ^–1 . Results indicate that, in the short term, baling or grazing of corn residue in high grain yielding fields will not negatively impact grain yield but grazing results in less removal of residue than baling.