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How to treat wheat straw with ammonia
By
Mindy Ward
28 June 2023
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MORE FORAGE: With drought drawing down pastures and reducing hay
supply, livestock produces must look for alternative feedstuffs. Wheat
straw may be the answer. DUSIPUFFI/GETTY
IMAGES
Limited grass and hay have livestock producers looking for alternative
forage options. Gene Schmitz, University of Missouri Extension
livestock specialist, says you may want to consider ammoniated wheat
straw.
Adding anhydrous ammonia to wheat straw improves nutritional value and
makes it a viable forage option during drought. So, whether you are
trying it for the first time or need a refresher, Schmitz breaks down
the process for round bales:
Harvest, then treat. For the process to be successful, Schmitz
says straw needs to be baled and treated soon after grain harvest.
Weigh bales. Farmers need to know an average bale weight as it
is used to calculate the amount of anhydrous ammonia required for
treatment.
Stack tight. Two bottom rows of 13 bales and one top row of 12
bales works well — 38 per stack. Place it in an area with good
airflow. Gravel keeps moisture from wicking up from the ground.
Cover bales. Schmitz suggests using either 6 or 8 mil black or
clear UV-resistant plastic sheets to cover the stack. “A
40-foot-by-100-foot sheet of plastic will completely cover 38 round
bales of straw,” he says.
Seal sides. Seal the sides of the plastic against the ground
with dirt, waste lime or other heavy material. “Enough fill should be
placed on the plastic to keep it from being pulled loose by winds and
ballooning when the ammonia gas fills the covered stack,” Schmitz
notes.
Calculate NH3 needs. Anhydrous
ammonia (NH3)
is applied at a rate of 60 pounds per ton of wheat straw. Calculating
the weight of 38 straw bales under cover, you can purchase the right
amount of anhydrous ammonia.
Apply anhydrous. This is a slow process. Insert a pipe or hose
under the plastic and into the stack as central as possible. Then
apply the ammonia slowly — roughly three to five hours — to the center
of the stack.
Wait to feed. Schmitz says farmers should keep the wheat straw
pile covered until two to three weeks before feeding. Then open the
ends of the stack, allowing it to air out, but don’t keep it open.
“The pile must remain covered to maintain forage quality of the
treated straw,” he adds. Consider removing several bales from the pile
a few days before feeding for extra time to air out.
A warning
Schmitz says toxicity can occur in animals when some forages are
ammoniated, so only treat low-quality forages such as wheat straw or
fescue stubble following seed harvest.
He adds that if toxicity issues occur, avoid working the cattle and
remove ammoniated hay from the diet for several days. “A mixture of
50% ammoniated hay and 50% untreated hay should eliminate any
problems.”
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SEALED UP: Wheat straw should be sealed up under a tarp before
injecting with anhydrous ammonia.
Still, Schmitz says farmers should work with a nutritional consultant
to develop feeding programs that include ammoniated wheat straw. If
you have questions regarding the process or feeding, call Schmitz at
660-827-0591 or email schmitze@missouri.edu.
Practice safety around NH3
Anhydrous ammonia poses risks for farmers.
Because NH3 contains
little or no water it seeks out moisture, be it from soil or your
eyes, throat, lungs or skin. So, safety when working with anhydrous
ammonia is of the utmost concern.
Schmitz offers seven safety rules for working with anhydrous ammonia:
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Wear goggles, rubber gloves and protective clothing.
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Work upwind when releasing ammonia.
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Have fresh water available to wash off any anhydrous ammonia
that comes in contact with the skin.
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Check all valves, hoses and tanks for leaks.
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Check the plastic cover for leaks and patch with duct tape.
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Do not smoke near anhydrous ammonia.
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Keep children away from treatment area.
Green Play Ammonia™, Yielder® NFuel Energy.
Spokane, Washington. 99212
www.exactrix.com
509 995 1879 cell, Pacific.
exactrix@exactrix.com
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