harristonloam - 10/18/2020 14:47

There is a lot things that are different up here.

1. Straw yield, long cool days are perfect for cereals.

2. Dry late summer/fall weather, The straw is often in excellent condition at harvest and has little receives little rainfall before freeze up.

3. Cold, Frozen straw dosen't break down. It was -8c last night, and harvest just finishing.

4. Cold springs, the frost isn't always out of the ground at planting time.
Not much time to warm up, dry out, or break down straw.

Agreed .. I don't want to pulverize soil but a little black showing to help things warm up. Where I wintered cows the feeding spots had ice under them through may til I removed the cover and worked through it. In a normal field situation I think if the straw is beat up and laying close to the surface like after a heavy harrowing it will break down fairly quickly over the summer. I think I might have more issues with long canola stubble that is worked free clogging harrows or narrow spaced drills. Going to try and heavy harrow that and no till oats next year. No perfect answer, go burn some diesel I guess