New NRCS conservation practice available Practice to optimize amount, orientation, distribution of plant residue

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Washington (NRCS-WA) has begun to implement Conservation Harvest Management (NRCS Interim Conservation Practice Standard 809) to help increase sustainable agricultural practices in the wheat producer community.

The conservation practice focuses on harvest or management techniques that optimize the amount, orientation, and distribution of plant residue left standing or laying on the ground. 

This practice requires a variation in harvesting activities to retain maximum standing vertical residue by implementing the use of harvest operations equipment like the stripper headers that can optimize yield while maintaining the heath and integrity of the soil, water, and surrounding ecosystem. 

“Having any plant material residue left on the field, standing or laying down, helps to reduce erosion from wind and rain, increase soil organic matter, and moderate soil temperatures,” said Dr. Steven Lee, Plant Materials Center manager for NRCS-WA. “These techniques also help to reduce soil compaction, which has the benefit of helping the soil absorb more moisture.” 

By implementing a stripper header for harvesting, wheat producers are able strip the grain from the stalk and still leave most of the plant residue intact and anchored in the field. The residual plant matter left intact in the field allows for greater moisture retention and yield stability by acting as a natural mulch, thus reducing evaporation and helping to retain soil moisture. 

The benefits of using a disc drill in combination with the standing residue comes primarily by preserving soil structure, reducing compaction, and improved water absorption. Healthier soils require less chemical input over time, reducing costs associated with fertilizers and pesticides. Additionally, healthier soils are more resilient to climate variability, offering long-term economic benefits. Disk drills in this system also can be used to meet the Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till Conservation Practice Standard (CPS) 329 or Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till CPS345.

There are additional benefits to using the stripper header and disc drill in that they can help reduce fuel and labor costs. Stripper headers and disc drills reduce the number of field passes and the amount of tillage required. This translates into financial savings on fuel and labor. This practice also greatly reduces “hair pinning” of residue and poor stand establishment sometimes associated with no-till seeding into conventionally cut, horizontal residue. Financial benefits reported in a 2023 study involving six Montana wheat producers indicated an average savings of $4.40 per acre/year. If interested in learning more, the Montana based study can be found at nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/Montana-Economics-of-Stripper-Header-and-Disc-Drill-Adoption.pdf. 

With the addition of the equipment required to adhere to this conservation practice comes increased cost requirements. Both stripper headers and disc drills represent a significant initial capital investment. NRCS-WA can help with equipment costs to make implementation of this practice more financially feasible using their Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). By working with NRCS, producers who choose to implement Conservation Harvest Management (NRCS Interim Conservation Practice Standard 809) would receive EQIP payment incentives on a per-acre basis. 

If you are interested in learning more about this practice and how NRCS can help you help your land, contact your local NRCS-WA service center.