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How weather affects corn stalk qualityBy Noel Mues University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator Fall rainfall is good for the next growing season but it can take a toll on corn stalk quality by reducing its feed value in combined fields in several ways. Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist, says the most easily noticed is how fast stalks get soiled or trampled into the ground when fields are muddy. But less noticeable are nutritional changes. Rain soaks into dry corn stalk residue and leaches out some soluble nutrients. Most serious is the loss of sugars and other energy-dense nutrients, which lowers the total digestible nutrients or energy value of the stalks. These same nutrients also disappear if stalks begin to mold or rot in the field, or especially in the bale. Then palatability and intake also decline. While there's little you can do to prevent these losses, Anderson says cattlemen can begin to supplement a little earlier than usual. Since weathering by rain reduces TDN more than it reduces protein, consider the energy value of your supplements as well as protein content. "Weathered corn stalks still are economical feeds. Just supplement them accordingly," he says. Now's a good time to plant grasses and legumes Grasses and legumes are normally planted in early spring, but planting during the dormant season can be nearly as successful, says Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist. Anderson says dormant plantings succeed as long as soil is relatively dry and soil temperature is too cold for seeds to germinate. "That's the main key--too cold to germinate. When these conditions exist, seed just lies in the soil until conditions favorable for germination occur next spring. Then seeds begin to grow as if they had just been planted," he says. "If you want to plant grass but never seem to have enough time or the right soil conditions to do a good job in spring, try dormant planting." Warm-season grasses, like those used in Conservation Reserve Program and range plantings, are especially well-suited to dormant planting, he points out. They won't germinate until soil temperature exceeds 45 F. Since soils generally remain colder than this for most of the winter, dormant plantings of these grasses can be made anytime between late November and March. In addition, the alternate warming and cooling of the soil in spring stimulates a natural process in these seeds that improves their germination. Cool-season grasses and legumes, however, can germinate at soil temperatures as low as 35 F. "Our soils often are warmer than 35 F for several days in a row during winter, so cool-season grass seeds occasionally germinate and then die when soils freeze again. As a result, dormant plantings of cool-season species are successful less often than warm-season grass plantings," Anderson says.
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