Perceptions of crop consultants and producers in Nebraska on grazing corn residue

Abstract Text: This study was designed to better understand perceptions and concerns of crop consultants and producers in Nebraska regarding grazing corn residue. Survey participants were crop consultants (234/940 = 25% return rate) and crop producers (130/545 = 24% return rate). Online survey software (Qualtrics) was used to create, distribute, and store data from the surveys, which were distributed using an electronic mailing list of consultants and producers developed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension educators. The survey indicated that 76% of consultants influenced ≥ 4,000 acres of sprinkler irrigated and rain-fed cropland with about 50% under no-till management. Seventy percent of producers farmed between 200 and 3,999 acres of sprinkler irrigated and rain-fed cropland with about 70% under no-till management. Regarding grazing practices, 82% of consultants recommended grazing corn residue, while only 52% of producers allowed corn residue grazing. Thirty-seven percent of producers did not allow grazing due to concerns of soil compaction, inconvenience (lack of water, fencing, and land/equipment damage), and lack of access to livestock for grazing. In regards to the impact of grazing on subsequent corn and soybean yields, about 50% of producers stated that grazing had “no impact” and about 33% stated that grazing increased yield. Producers that allowed corn residue grazing perceived that grazing residue increased subsequent corn (P < 0.01) and soybean (P = 0.02) yield more than producers that did not allow grazing. From a question that allowed respondents to select “all that apply”, 56% of consultants and 44% of producers reported receiving information related to yield and corn residue grazing from their own observation. Forty-eight percent of consultants and only 25% of producers received information regarding yield and corn residue grazing from University Extension programs. We hypothesized that consultants would recommend against grazing corn residue, but the survey results suggested otherwise. Almost 40% of producers were not allowing grazing despite the majority of consultant’s recommending it. Overall, the perceptions of consultants and producers were positive towards grazing residue and its impacts on subsequent grain yields. There was a large portion of consultants and producers making management decisions based on their own observation rather than based on research data. Hence, this survey suggests the need for University Extension educators and researchers to more effectively disseminate research results to producers and other clientele regarding this management strategy.

Keywords: Crop yield, Extension education, Grazing corn residue, Survey