High yield and abundant straw have gone hand-in-hand this year.  Heavy lodging in some fields has left surface residue that is wet underneath and impossible to plant through, causing a number of  wheat fields to be burned for residue management.  Wheat straw helps build valuable soil organic matter and holds our topsoil in highly erodible fields.  If straw is standing, it is best to leave it alone and break out the no-till equipment.  Burning can reduce heavy residue levels and make planting easier, help with at-planting weed control and may help cycle K and P back into the soil faster than it can be released through natural straw breakdown.  Heavy surface ash will likely tie up more preemergence herbicides.  Consider trash cleaners to move heavy ash off rows if planter is equipped with cleaners.  In order to get a more uniform stand, monitor planting depth and make sure you are planting deep enough to firm mostly soil around the seed and not ash.