Fall tillage. Primary tillage in the fall accelerates residue decomposition. Residue that is not incorporated in the fall will largely remain intact in the spring. In general, 5% to 10% more corn residue is decomposed when tillage occurs in the fall than in the spring.

Strip Tillage. Also known as zone tillage, strip tillage combines the soil warming and drying benefits of tillage with the soil conservation benefits of no-till. In this system, a 6- to 8-inch-wide strip is tilled in the fall, and the remaining inter-row space (usually 22 to 24 inches) with its crop residue cover remains undisturbed.

Chopping Stalks. An alternative approach to fall tillage is chopping stalks with a flail-type or rotary blade chopper. Although very effective at sizing residue, this approach can flatten the residue profile and distributes stalk residue between the rows, reducing the advantage of planting next year's crop between last year's rows.

Grazing. Cattle producers may consider grazing their field or baling some of their corn stalks for feed or bedding. Another option is selling corn stalks for ethanol production. In either case, only a portion of the stalks should be removed so that the benefits of stalk cover are not completely lost. It is recommended that farmers strategically remove stalks from less-erosive field areas in alternating strips year-to-year.