This has been the most popular question of the week coming over my phone line and other popular questions, even those constant harassments about me owing money, are not close to challenging. What’s different this year? Well....one thing is the value of nutrients removed by the straw and that’s precisely where we need to start when determining value. Before we begin, I have read and heard some outrageous figures along the line of fertilizer values and I’m not exactly sure how these figures are being calculated unless there is a major increase in fertilizer prices for next spring being built-in. Here’s what I know to be a fact based on actual wheat straw nutrient analysis: one dry matter ton of straw off the field contains (on average) 14 lbs. of nitrogen, 6 lbs. of P2O5, and 29 lbs. of K2O. Using current fertilizer prices ($0.78/lb. N, $0.70/lb. P2O5, and $0.58/lb. K2O), this equates to about $32 of fertilizer equivalent per ton of dry matter. Most harvested straw is at least 7 percent moisture, so the actual per ton fertilizer value is about $30. This is 2.5 times the value from just two years ago.

       The seller then has to determine how much “profit” above fertilizer value is reasonable. My sense is that this has been around $20 to $30 per ton based on past transactions, but it’s certainly a negotiable figure. If we add the $30 fertilizer credit to a $20 profit value, then the seller would be asking $50 per ton for straw as it sits in the field behind the combine. The buyer must then consider harvesting costs, which will vary based on harvest method. Large bale harvesting will be the cheapest ($24-$27/ton), chopping is next (about $30/ton), and small square bales the most expensive ($35-$45/ton). Of course all of these harvest costs are estimates based on average custom rates and bale sizes and your own costs may be different.

       It’s always best if prices can be determined on a “per ton” rather than “per acre” basis. This takes the guess work out determining actual yield. Average yields for wheat straw are about 1.5 tons per acre with a yield over two tons per acre being exceptional and one ton very possible if stubble is cut high.


Wheat harvest ramblings.......

       As the wheat harvest approaches, remember that timeliness of harvest maximizes both yield and quality of the grain. Once wheat reaches a suitable harvest moisture, test weight declines with each wetting and drying cycle caused by rain. Even if it doesn’t look different as the crop stands in the field.....it is.