BASELINE COST FOR CORN STOVER COLLECTION

Abstract

From consultations with three experienced farmercustom operators, two systems were selected for thedevelopment of baseline costs for collecting corn stover residue as bales. One system consisted of a combination ofshreddingwindrowing operations followed by round baling. The other system consisted of separate shredding andwindrowing (raking) operations followed by large rectangular baling. Round bales were collected using a pulltype roundbale transporter equipped with a loading arm and stacked in storage using a telescopic loader. Rectangular bales werecollected using a selfpropelled stacker wagon that stacked the bales automatically. An average distance between the farmand storage of 8 km (5 miles) was assumed. The calculated cost for all operations up to and including stacking in a coveredstorage was $21.60/dry Mg ($19.70/ dry ton) and $23.60/dry Mg ($21.40/dry ton) for the round baling system and for therectangular baling system, respectively. The cost included wages but did not include any additional payment to the farmer.The cost difference between the two systems was due to the additional raking operation and higher capital cost of equipmentfor rectangular baling and transport and smaller load for the rectangular bale transport.