Wheat straw is the above ground, non-grain portion of the wheat plant (stalks, leaves, chaff), that can, in addition to the wheat grain, be used for bioenergy and bioproducts. Based on existing wheat acres and grain yields, about 93 million dry tons of straw were produced annually between 2000-2004, however, not all of this material can be removed. Wheat straw plays a vital role in maintaining soil characteristics (e.g., soil organic matter and soil moisture), controlling erosion and chemical runoff, and ensuring the long-term productivity of the soil. Sufficient straw quantities must be left on the field to maintain these functions—the quantities needed will depend on the conditions under which the wheat is produced (i.e., crop rotation, tillage and other management practices, soil type, field characteristics such as slope, climate, etc.). Estimated quantities and costs of collecting wheat straw vary substantially by study depending on assumed wheat production practices, soil properties accounted for, and straw collection methods employed.