Author Topic: Real basic question - what is "standing straw" exactly? (Read 3168 times)

Jay2 · « **on:** June 24, 2020, 08:43:01 pm »

I'm sure somebody on here can enlighten me as I can't find an explanation on google. I see a lot of auctions advertised for standing straw around abouts. Is this just the remaining straw after the wheat/barley/oats etc has already been collected? And if so, why is it " standing", wouldn't it be cut and lying down if the cereal's seed head has already been harvested?
Sorry this is such a basic question but I don't know any arable farmers to ask!
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macgro7 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2020, 09:11:57 am »

You dont mean 'standing hay', do you???

sabrina · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2020, 11:33:26 am »

Maybe it means straw balled but still in the field.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #3 on:** June 25, 2020, 12:03:35 pm »

I suspect it does mean the stalks still in the ground. Will get ploughed in if no-one wants to buy it and bale it.

Buttermilk · « **Reply #4 on:** June 25, 2020, 03:14:41 pm »

A standing crop has not been harvested. Most likely the crop has droughted off and would cost more to combine than it will fetch when sold so selling for someone to cut and bale for bedding/feeding to stock.

twizzel · « **Reply #5 on:** June 25, 2020, 04:30:01 pm »

Straw from crops not yet harvested, the buyer arranges baling and removal of straw once the crop has been combined, and normally pays by the acre. Once it’s combined it’s normally sold by the tonne/bale.

Jay2 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2020, 11:11:39 am »

Thanks for the replies, yes maybe the one about baling it for straw if the crop is not good enough would seem to make sense. I will ask around some more. The few farmers I know are livestock/dairy and only cut for silage.
Very excited this morning - our first pigs are coming at lunchtime! The smallholding experience starts today.

bj_cardiff · « **Reply #7 on:** June 28, 2020, 07:58:48 am »

It means that the crop is yet to be harvested. As this is advertised as standing straw, and not wheat, I would imagine the farmer will harvest the wheat himself and whoever buys the straw will be responsible for baling it up and moving themselves.