Grain drying and storage
Corn stalk feed value
Minimize soil compaction
Deep tillage considerations
Soil sampling for future manure mngt.plans
Use crop residue to protect the soil

Introduction
Soybean harvest is all but complete and corn harvest should be in full swing this week.  As the crops are removed, managing the soil, soil nutrients and crop residues become the next challenge.  Be sure to minimize soil compaction potential during harvest by checking tire pressure and use controlled traffic lanes.  If soil compaction is suspected, use deep tillage sparingly and as the last resort to fix the problem.  Soil sampling for nutrient and fertility recommendations should follow the guidelines presented in the ISU publication PM 287.  Be sure to leave adequate residue on the soil surface to utilize its protective qualities when dealing with the erosive forces of water and wind.

Row-Crop and Forage Information
Grain Drying, handling and storage:  A web site with excellent resources on all aspects of grain drying and storage can be found at this URL:  http://www.extension.umn.edu/topics.html?topic=4&subtopic=44

Corn stalks have feed and $ value  Cornstalks can be a great source of winter feed for cattle.  Cornstalks that are supplemented with protein, vitamins and minerals can supply the nutritional needs of cows that are in moderately good body condition.   Cornstalks are generally considered to have about 80 to 90 percent of the energy of mixed grass and legume hay per pound of dry matter, but only 20 to 30 percent as much protein.  Adding soybean meal can be a good way to increase protein content.  Bruce Anderson (Nebraska Extension Forage Specialist) recommends that if you plan to graze cornstalks, the stalks should be grazed as soon as possible after harvest. The nutrient value of stalks declines the longer they are exposed to weathering. Grazing stalks right after harvest will put more condition on cows and faster gains on young stock.  For information on estimating dollar value of cornstalks baled or in the field, see the October 6, 2003 ISU ICM newsletter, also found on-line at:   http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2003/10-6-2003/rentsellcorn.html

Soil and Fertility Management
Minimize the effects of soil compaction  Most soil compaction occurs from the first pass of the implement; therefore minimize field-wide compaction by using controlled traffic lanes. For example, avoid driving loaded grain carts randomly through the field.  Check wheel and tire size and pressure. Larger wheels and tires allow better flotation, and lower tire pressures reduce the load on the soil. Increase the tire's "footprint" with larger wheel diameters. Spend the extra time with your implement and tire dealer to obtain proper tire size and set tire pressure, the extra time this fall may pay off quickly next year through higher yield potential soil conditions.
Source:  Soil compaction may be cutting into your yield; ICM Newsletter 7/8/2002.  Mark Hanna, ISU Extension Agricultural Engineer, and Mahdi Al-Kaisi, ISU Extension Soil Specialist

Considering deep tillage?  Think again.  Recent studies on Deep Tillage in southern MN have not always shown positive results on yields.  The economic results can be much less favorable considering a deep tillage operation can run as high as $20 per acre.   Read more about the MN study here: http://www.extension.umn.edu/cropenews/2003/03MNCN26.htm

Tony Vyn (Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service cropping systems specialist) provided some good guidelines to follow when considering deep tillage. (http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html3month/021004.Vyn.subsoiling.html)

• When subsoiling is warranted, it should be done when soils are dry.

• In some cases, subsoiling makes a bad situation worse.

• Subsoiling should be done no deeper than 1-2 inches below the compacted soil zone, and never based on available tractor horsepower or the maximum depth a tillage tool can go.

• There is less benefit to deep loosening in fields high in organic matter, or in those with a history of manure application or regular forage crop production.

• Deep loosening can expose soil to erosion, especially if the subsoiling operation produces a large area of disturbed soil with little remaining residue cover.

• Subsoiling costs a farmer money in fuel, time and equipment use. Costs can increase if soil ripping brings up large clods, which then must be broken down by additional tillage passes.

Soil sampling for future manure management plans (by Angela Rieck-Hinz, extension program specialist, Department of Agronomy, http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2004/9-13-2004/soilsample.html).  Soil sampling guidelines will need to be followed for manure management plans in the future.  Soil samples taken this fall may fall under the new rules.

• Soil samples shall be taken from each field in a manure management plan at least once every 4 years.

• Each sample must be analyzed for phosphorus (P) and pH.

• Soil samples may be taken by soil map unit, management zone, or grid sampling. Please see the Iowa State University Extension publication PM 287, Take a good sample to help make good decisions.

• Each soil sample must be a composite of at least 10 cores from the sampling area.

• Each core taken must represent the top 6 inches of the soil.

• Each soil sample can represent no more than 10 acres, unless the size of the field is 15 acres or less, then only one sample is necessary. If manure is applied at a phosphorus-based rate and the P-index is Very Low, Low, or Medium between sampling years, the sample can represent up to 20 acres.

• Soil analysis must be completed at a laboratory enrolled in the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's soil testing certification program.

• If soil pH is greater than or equal to 7.4, the Bray P1 extraction method is not suitable for analysis.

Manage Crop Residue to Protect Your Soil Resource  As tillage plans are made for this fall, keep in mind the important role that crop residues play in the overall conservation plan.  The amount of soil lost to erosion each year is directly proportional to the amount of crop residue remaining on the surface. You may already have made substantial changes in your farming operation to reduce erosion, but at the heart of your conservation plan should be some provision for conservation tillage. Conservation tillage is defined as tillage that leaves at least 30 percent of the field surface covered with crop residue after planting.

All crop residues (stalks, straw, chaff, and even the finest materials) stop rain splash, slow and trap runoff, and allow water infiltration. Plant residue also improves soil organic matter, which enhances soil physical and chemical properties such as soil tilth, aggregate stability, and cation exchange capacity.  Plan your tillage management systems to provide crop residue coverage, such as Mulch-tillage, No-till or Strip-tillage.  

Top 10 Ways to Leave More Residue