The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-09-04
FEEDING VALUE OF RUSTED
.8 STRAW s.f VI II. IS

| Ib TlO1l C1llS w G1lklC tISIS nave SOCtIl
in North Dakota severe outbreaks Of
rust and scab Of wheat. During these
rust years the feeding value of the
straw has come up for consideration
many times. Some farmers feared
that rusted or scab; infected straw
might be detrimental to their stock.
am writing this news-note to call
attention to the fact that the feeding
value of rustedt or blighted wheat, oat
or barley straw is much higher than
the feeding value Of straw which has
not been affected by rust or blight and
which matured its; grain normallygA A
| If wheat natures normally lin the
field the full nutri ent value in the ]
straw finally accumulates in the seed;
hence, when the straw is harvested it
has comparatively low feeding value,
howeveriif rust. or scab or other blight
has stopped the maturing Of the wheat
the nutrient value left in the straw is
much higher than it would have been
had the grain ripened without injury.
All such straw should this year be q
saved for feed. The chemical depart
ment of this institution, and Of a num-
Der of Canadian Provinces have sew
eral mes"tested this proposition and
have reported a high feed value for
badly rusted straw. Sometimes the i
nitrogent contents runs as high as
to 9 percent. The following letter and
the answer l have given will perhaps
make this more clear: Ma 5,.a s!ss
"Prof. Bolley, Agricultural Colleges,
N. D. Dear Sir:-Under separate
cover am sending you a sample Of
Marquis wheat in the straw and want
your ,opinion as to what should DO.
with it. y s' s
The stand is good, In spots there.
seem to be considerable wheat and ats u,
others very little. The renter wants
to pillow it under but it was my opin-1
ion that there was too much straw for
this. Also we would be blowing un-S
der wild oats. What effect would the
straw have onlcattle or sheep? "a
think could ship in either and feed to-
advantage. &, n .sy. n
Some suggests burning but do not
like the crop results after burning off,.
i believe there were circulars sent out
in 1916 that rusted straw would not
effect stock in feeding. ! will appre-#
ciate any, information and advice that
YOU can give me and it will be a bene-1
lit to many others here as we have
talked it over considerably. One has
one idea and one another. Some think
there might be enough wheat to pay
to take care Of. We would appreciate
advice as early as you can get it to Us
| as we are now in harvest and st will
be appreciated by good many Of u.s.
I'll This letter was answered as follows
| Dear Sir: Rusted Marquis w heat
Referring to your sample Of mar
i quis wheat and letter Of August It'll,
trusted straw properly cured to pre-
went molding will not injure cattle.
1 Rusted wheat straw, such as that sent
Tin, has high feeding value, much more
| feeding value than ordinary wheat
\ straw. If you do not deem it advis-
| able to thresh the wheat, which ~
seems to me if there is q good stand
might yet pay, you certainly could
cut it for feed.
4 In your region tits not advisable 70
1 plow under large amounts Of unrctted
1 straw. It introduces wheat diseases
Into the soil in quantity. It also in
PRODUCES a lot Of material which does
not rot sufficiently fast to allow good
soil texture the coming year.
Save your straw piles and feed theFti
to stock. \.