Hay price

[greybeard]

They have been studying straw removal at Indian Head for 50 years. This is the best I can find to sum it up:
A 40-year crop rotation experiment at the Indian Head Research Farm has shown that a properly fertilized fallow-wheat-wheat rotation can maintain crop yields and soil organic matter even when the straw is baled after each wheat crop. The removed straw represented about 40 per cent of the total residue produced, and in this case, the roots and residue that are left behind was sufficient to maintain soil organic matter. The only soil factor affected by straw harvesting was soil aggregate size, which was slightly reduced when the straw was harvested.These plots were converted to zero-till management in 1990, and between 1987 and 1997 there was an increase in soil organic matter, despite having harvested the straw.

[nicolaas]

I read some studies that said the same. I believe it depends on the soil type: rich deep soil vs grey wooded would handle the mining differently. I know that my baled fields definitely dryout faster in spring and sometimes germination hurts if there is no rain.