Straw is the part of the stem (or stalk) of certain cereals (such as wheat, barley, oats, rye or rice) that is cut during harvesting, after the grain has been separated. It is commonly used as bedding for livestock, as fodder (of lower quality than hay), as an environmentally friendly building material, or as mulch in gardens to protect the soil and crops. Straw is often harvested after the harvest and pressed into bales or bundles for easy transport and storage.
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