We Have the STRAW at Marshall County Co-Op

We all have heard of straw and we have heard of hay. Some people may not know the difference between the two. They look a lot alike right? Well, there is a big difference.

What is Hay?

According to the information I get when I Google “hay”, Hay is cut standing grass, clover, alfalfa, weeds, etc. which is dried and baled while green and growing. It has leaves and seeds and does not absorb moisture well. And if it is dusty, (dust means mold spores), it can cause respiratory issues indoors.

What is Straw?

Straw is the hollow stems of fully mature grains like wheat, oats and rice. While it may have a little grain left in it, it has little food value. It is, however, better at absorbing moisture and is smoother and less prickly than hay and it is better for bedding.

Let’s Focus on Straw

SO, with the difference between the two established, I now want to concentrate on straw. I attended a meeting a week ago and never realized how much there is to know about STRAW!

Did you know there are different kinds of straw?

There is cereal grain straw… an agricultural byproduct consisting of the dry stalks of cereal plants, after the grain and chaff have been removed. It makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops such as barley, oats rice, rye and wheat.

And there is certified straw, meaning, IT HAS BEEN INSPECTED TO BE FREE OF NOXIOUS WEEDS THAT COULD REPRODUCE.

Our region’s pipeline construction brings an increased demand for noxious weed-free mulch, meaning there is a need for this particular type of straw. Noxious or invasive weeds, including weed seed and propagative plant parts, designated as noxious by the North American Invasive Species Management Association. A national certification program has been designed to assure hay, mulch and straw meet minimum standards to limit the spread of these weeds.

Straw Deliveries from Marshall County Co-Op

And did you know that straw is delivered on two types of trailers? 53 foot and 28 foot TRAILERS. You can buy small squares or large squares, or 21 bales of regular straw strapped together for a Baron Bale.

TRAILERS CAN BE DROPPED ON YOUR SITES FOR STORAGE AND UNLOAD CONVENIENCE, AND ROTATED AS NEEDED FOR LARGER PROJECTS. Just when you think you know a lot; you can always learn something new!!

At the Marshall County Co-Op, we have large quantities available of standard and certified Straw and can handle all your straw needs. We can deliver AND DROP, SEMI VAN TRAILER TO your sites in OH, PA, WV, KY and IN. We specialize in certified weed free straw and offer straw for sale in small square and large square bales.

Contact Us for All of Your Straw

We offer 90 days No Interest, No Payment, for qualified customer through John Deere Financing. We also can keep your credit card on file for future billing purposes.

You can get more information by TEXTING or calling Dave at the Marshall County Co-Op at 304-215-0176.