The economics of collecting chaff

Abstract

Chaff, a by-product of cereal and oilseed production that is largely treated as waste product, may have significant economic value as a ruminant feed, and its collection and removal may reduce herbicide usage and tillage. We surveyed fifty farms located throughout the Brown, Dark Brown, and Black/Grey Wooded soil zones of Saskatchewan to determine the costs and benefits of their chaff collection systems. Benefits measured or estimated included both the feed value of chaff and agronomic benefits in the form of reduced tillage and herbicide requirements. Costs measured were for equipment and machinery ownership, maintenance and operation, including labor. The survey responses showed that, regardless of the type of collection system utilized, feed-related benefits outweighed the costs under the stated assumptions about prices and methods of assigning costs. Agronomic benefits alone also were sufficient to offset chaff collection costs. The net benefits of chaff collection are related to both the quantity of chaff collected and the distance the material is transported.

Opportunities and challenges for harvest weed seed control in global cropping systems

“…Therefore, although HWSC systems are primarily focused on targeting crop weeds, there needs to be a consideration of opportunities and impacts of these systems on livestock production. Chaff material, in particular, is a valuable source of feed for livestock and was the original reason for the development of chaff carts in Canada . This material typically includes some small and shriveled grain as well as weed seed resulting in protein contents of between 10 and 15% .…”

“…Chaff material, in particular, is a valuable source of feed for livestock and was the original reason for the development of chaff carts in Canada. 12 This material typically includes some small and shriveled grain as well as weed seed resulting in protein contents of between 10 and 15%. 71 Chaff material concentrated in lines (chaff lining) may be directly grazed, whereas chaff piles resulting from the use of chaff carts can be grazed or collected for use in lot-feeding.…”

“…> 95% for L. rigidum ) of weed seeds collected during harvest exiting in the chaff fraction, this material became the focus for the development of HWSC systems in Australia in the 1980s. The first system introduced was the chaff cart, which originated in Canada as the chaff wagon, a trailing cart attached to the rear of the harvester to collect chaff material during harvest . Chaff‐collecting carts pulled behind the harvester were the first commercial HWSC practice.…”

“…Chaff‐collecting carts pulled behind the harvester were the first commercial HWSC practice. Chaff, because of its higher feed value than total crop residue or straw, was a focus of the Canadian livestock industry in the 1970s and 1980s . It was recognized at the time that collection and removal of chaff could reduce weed burdens; however, herbicide resistance was not a major concern and the focus of this activity remained on livestock feed collection.…”

Review: The composition and availability of straw and chaff from small grain cereals for beef cattle in western Canada

“…Chaff collecting systems have been evaluated by Stumborg and Craig (1989), Olfert et al (1991), Lischynski et al (1992), the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (1998) and Stumborg and Townley-Smith (2004). Despite limited commercial availability of chaff collecting equipment such as the Redekop Chaff-O-Matic Chaff Saver (Saskatoon, SK) and the McLeod Harvest System (Winnipeg, MB), all chaff material produced is potentially harvestable, whereas harvestable straw will vary with cutting height.…”