The best use of crop straw is to raise cattle
In recent years, every autumn harvest season, governments at all levels in Jiyuan City, Henan Province, have issued "no-burning orders," organizing city, township and village cadres to go all out to enforce the ban on burning, but the results have been less than satisfactory. Why is straw burning always banned yet repeatedly practiced? The key reason is that no good use has been found for the straw.
Straw is a valuable resource
According to measurements, the energy stored in straw and other by-products is comparable to the energy in grain kernels, and raising cattle is the best way to solve the problem of straw burning. First, it increases income from crop farming. According to statistics, after the corn harvest, 2 tonnes of fresh straw can be collected per mu; calculated at the minimum purchase price of 80 yuan per tonne at cattle farms, the income per mu can reach 160 yuan. Second, it improves breeding efficiency. With 5 mu of straw plus an appropriate amount of concentrate and dry hay, 4 beef cattle can be fattened (each with a fattening period of 3 months), and raising cattle increases income by more than 400 yuan per mu. Third, it promotes a virtuous cycle in agriculture and animal husbandry. Raising cattle on straw and fertilizing fields with cattle manure can change the soil compaction caused by long-term chemical fertilizer application, effectively improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil, and promote a virtuous cycle in agriculture and animal husbandry. Fourth, it drives some farming households to make silage and increase their income.
At present, cattle farms generally use the silage method to process straw, that is, immediately after the corn cobs are picked, or when the corn is about to be harvested, the stalks and ears together are chopped short, compacted and sealed for storage, and after more than 30 days of airtight fermentation, they are used to feed cattle. Silaged straw is not only rich in nutrients, good in palatability and high in digestibility, but can also be stored for a long time and is very convenient to use. Straw silage requires a large amount of manpower and material resources, which provides farmers with opportunities to earn money. Delivering straw to cattle farms pays 80 yuan per tonne; with two people and one vehicle, at least 4 tonnes can be transported per day, and each person can earn 160 yuan per day on average; chopping grass at cattle farms pays 15 yuan per tonne; with 3 people and one straw chopper, at least 30 tonnes can be chopped per day, and each person can earn 150 yuan per day on average. According to incomplete statistics, in 2011, more than 2,000 people in Jiyuan City were engaged in straw silage work. Calculated at an income of 150 yuan per person per day, with a silage period of about 30 days, the per capita monthly income reached 4,500 yuan.
Three major factors affecting straw-based cattle raising
Decline in straw output In recent years, as people's economic awareness has increased, the corn planting area has decreased year by year, and straw output has declined, which is very unfavorable for straw silage.
Abundant rain affects silage Autumn is the season for corn harvest and also the golden period for silage, but there is a lot of rain during this period. In weather like that of 2011, the rain continued without stopping, vehicles could not enter the fields, and the progress of silage was seriously affected.
Straw returned directly to the field 75% of Jiyuan City's straw resources are on the plains, and most existing cattle farms are also built on the plains. With the promotion of straw-returning machines on the plains, the area of straw returned to the field has increased year by year, and the straw resources available to cattle farms have become fewer and fewer. In order to secure supply, cattle farms had to raise their purchase prices, which increased the cost of straw silage. In 2011, the straw purchase price rose to more than 80 yuan per tonne, with the highest price reaching 110 yuan per tonne.
Vigorously develop straw resources
Strengthen publicity on the development and utilization of straw, raise the masses' awareness of protecting and utilizing straw, guide cattle farm areas to actively transfer land, or sign agreements with large growers, implement order-based production, and establish their own forage and feed bases. Encourage cattle farm areas to carry out off-site silage, and non-cattle-farm areas to carry out commercial silage, so as to make the best possible use of straw resources.