[9520deere]

What is pea straw worth? Big 70" bales from a JD baler. Have sold wheat straw in the past for $20. Central Alberta here.

 

[nicemustang]

The best thing you can do is work it back into the ground! There is so many good nutrients that be taking too much away for a few bucks you'd get back.

 

[Ben Heide]

The best thing you can do is work it back into the ground! There is so many good nutrients that be taking too much away for a few bucks you'd get back.

Agreed. Baled it one year, cows would only eat it with molasses on it. And if there was any wind before it got rolled up, WHAT A MESS! Windrows all over the map!

 

[CRToney]

It's too bad you're not closer, I'd buy a lot at $20/bale.

 

[Trace1]

I don't think that 50$ a bale is enough when u consider what that straw will remove from your ground! But maybe you are soil rich in nutrients and have loads of OM , because where I'm at we are the opposite .

 

[cnh007]

Great feed for cows, high in protein, if you tub grind it and mix in ration it's very good

 

[lambear]

If it doesn't get worked in, it's a ***** for plugging when damp.

 

[9520deere]

Mostly no-till so that's the main reason to bale it.

 

[lambear]

Mostly no-till so that's the main reason to bale it.

Sound like the same kind of dirt as me, need to preserve moisture

 

[Ben Heide]

Great feed for cows, high in protein, if you tub grind it and mix in ration it's very good

Didn't try that. Ran a bale through the processor and mixed with a couple bales of hay. Would try it again now I think as it would be good mixed with silage, but I think our days of growing peas are close to over... too much root rot

 

[Don Boles]

Will peas be a crop in 5 years?

I think our days of growing peas are close to over... too much root rot

Several fields in this area were catastrophic failures this year due to root rot, mainly on heavy clay soils.
With no solution in sight I'm not sure where this industry is headed.

 

[kirschenman]

Several fields in this area were catastrophic failures this year due to root rot, mainly on heavy clay soils.
With no solution in sight I'm not sure where this industry is headed.

Fababeans! If you're Greg Stamp . I think they will play a huge role in keeping legumes in a Central Alberta rotation. Hopefully the feed market can convert to them quickly with the increases in acres.




Regarding straw costs, the Alberta Ag nutrient calculator says that for every bushel of peas harvested, the straw holds 0.7 lbs N, 0.2 lbs P, 2 lbs K, 0.1 lbs S. So depending on what your peas yield, that should give you a good idea on nutrient replacement costs for the straw portion. Plus there needs to be some value given to the carbon removed, but I have no idea how to value it in your soils and climate. In my desert I imagine I value that much higher than you.
http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app19/calc/crop/nutrientuse.jsp

 

[torriem]

I was told the pathogen still attacks and lives on faba bean roots, but it just doesn't affect the plant nearly as much as peas. Is this correct? If so, I think this just kicks the can farther down the road a bit. The pathogen is still finding a nice home and multiplying in the soil.