Research Roundup
Getting more from crop residue, CRP acres.
March 20, 2026
Assessing nutrient content of grasslands enrolled in CRP
Researchers at Kansas State University (K-State) evaluated the protein and fiber content of standing Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) forages in Kansas throughout the year.
Through the course of two years, extension agents and beef cattle specialists in Kansas analyzed 294 samples collected from 25 sites across 16 counties. Classified as eastern or northwestern Kansas, samples were collected monthly to determine composition change throughout the year.
Samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P).
According to the researchers, within the primary growing season months, the samples analyzed were not different in CP, but they peaked in protein content earlier in samples from eastern Kansas. TDN concentrations were higher for eastern (51.1%) than northwestern (39.6%) Kansas samples in May.
“The nutrient composition data for CRP forages can be used by producers to make informed management decisions when CRP is released for haying or grazing,” say researchers, “which is critical, as previous assessments of CRP forage quality throughout Kansas are not widely available.”
— Jason Warner 2026 K-State Cattlemen’s Day Report
![Fig. 1: Conservation Reserve Program forage crude protein (CP) content [% dry matter (DM) basis] in Kansas by region during key growing season months](https://cd.angus.org/-/jssmedia/18caa052144e483e90f956e1bab573de.png?mw=1440&iar=0)
Fig. 1: Conservation Reserve Program forage crude protein (CP) content [% dry matter (DM) basis] in Kansas by region during key growing season months
Combine head type affects residue quality for grazing
Growers have increasingly started to use chopping heads on their combines to accelerate breakdown of the residue. University of Nebraska researchers wanted to see if that would have any effects on performance of steers grazing the corn residue.
They conducted a study over two years (2023-2024 and 2024-2025) at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Education Center near Mead, Neb. Steers grazed residue remaining after the corn was harvested with a standard header vs. that remaining after corn was harvested with a chopping combine head.
Corn yield was 220 bushels (bu.) in 2023 and 223 bu. in 2024.
Following harvest, the 26-acre irrigated field was divided in eight 2.6-acre paddocks. Spring-born steers were limit-fed 2% of their body weight for five days. They were weighed on the final three days, stratified by weight, then randomly assigned to a paddock.
Forty steers were turned out to graze corn residue Nov. 8, 2023, to graze for 63 days; 48 steers were turned out Nov. 20, 2024, to graze for 53 days. All groups were supplemented 18.3 pounds (lb.) per group daily with a supplement containing dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS).
The first year the steers had to be pulled Jan. 10 due to inclement weather. In Year 2, they were pulled Jan. 12 due to lack of residue availability. After removal from the field, the researchers limit-fed the cattle for five days and recorded weights the final three days of limit-feeding. In Year 1, each paddock had a cannulated steer.
The researchers report there was no significant difference in corn residue mass or quality of the husk by harvest method. Gains were more than twice as high in Year 2 than in Year 1 (2.10 lb. per day vs. 0.76 lb. per day). The researchers noted this could be due to greater husk digestibility and milder winter conditions.
Comparing combine heads, corn residue harvested with the standard head resulted in slightly higher average daily gain (1.48 lb. vs. 1.36 lb.) than residue harvested with the chopping corn head.
“This performance is likely due to reduced husk mass and finer leaf particle size in chopped residue, which may have limited intake,” the researchers conclude. “While differences were modest, the data suggest that chopped residue may decrease grazing value.”
— Connor Biehler, Mary Drewnoski and Jim MacDonald 2026 Nebraska Beef Report
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