Disclaimer: Please note that none of the information contained in these files is meant to be professional information. Consult your vet, attorney or other professional for their advice. To: equinerescue@imagicomm.com From: "Huston, Virgil H." Subject: RE: EQ-ResQ: Removal of Manure? Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 08:46:11 -0400 Why not just compost it? Then it can be spread virtually anywhere or even sold. Virgil ========== "Huston, Virgil H." ====== To: equinerescue@imagicomm.com From: "s.pel" Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Removal of Manure? Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 15:44:34 -0700 Can we have a discussion on composting manure? I would like to know what people have had the best success with. Such as how often to turn anything to add, lime? shavings? old hay? We have been composting ours and my piles are not getting very hot and it takes for ever to break down. Thanks! Shelly ========== "s.pel" ====== To: equinerescue@imagicomm.com From: "s.pel" Subject: EQ-ResQ: manure composting Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 16:25:28 -0700 I found a great horse poop composting sight. It even tells you where to get some help with funding for the bins. They use a 50 horse ranch for example. http://burke.ces.state.nc.us/pubs/horse/compost.shtml ========== "s.pel" ====== To: equinerescue@imagicomm.com From: "Cris May" Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Removal of Manure? Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 21:38:43 -0400 > Why not just compost it? Then it can be spread virtually anywhere or even > sold. About 25 acres, 60+ equines. A normal horse creates 50 lbs. of manure per day. There is no place to compost it. And that would get into the environmental issues here as well. Cris May Days End Farm Horse Rescue (MD) http://www.defhr.org ========== "Cris May" ====== To: equinerescue@imagicomm.com From: KGu3001524@aol.com Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Removal of Manure? Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 22:07:41 EDT Having had first hand knowledge of the manure compost problem, I have jumped in to add my two cents. A manure compost pile may sound simple but in a semi rural or populated area it is not simple. We almost lost our ability to do rescue because a neighbor - not within sight - objected to our compost pile. We were lucky, our neighbors within view of the ranch stood up for us and we had the foresight to apply and received a composting permit. We did not need the permit by the county standards but because we took the extra step they looked more favorably at our situation. We cannot find anyone to haul the manure for a reasonable price so composting is our only way, we take the pile's temperature every other day, add water when needed and turn regularly. It is the most well tended pile of poop you ever saw. Kela Wildcat Creek Stables ========== KGu3001524@aol.com ====== To: equinerescue@imagicomm.com From: "Huston, Virgil H." Subject: EQ-ResQ: Removal of Manure? Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 11:30:58 -0400 Cris said: About 25 acres, 60+ equines. A normal horse creates 50 lbs. of manure per day. There is no place to compost it. And that would get into the environmental issues here as well. > Cris, > > That is just not true. You would have to have a front end loader for your > volume, but the chicken factory farms compost literally tons of manure > (and dead birds) in a relatively small space. If you have 25 acres, you > have room. The manure material shrinks incredibly when it gets to > composting. I am assuming that you are talking mainly about manure mixed > with straw or some other bedding. If you have 60 equines on 25 acres, then > the problem in the field is major and I don't have an answer for that one > - you sure can't go around picking it all up. Anyway, there are simple > methods of composting large quantities of material. I can try to find more > info if you want. > > Regards, > Virgil ========== "Huston, Virgil H." ====== To: equinerescue@imagicomm.com From: "Huston, Virgil H." Subject: EQ-ResQ: Removal of Manure? Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 11:32:11 -0400 > A wise farmer once told me: "Be first and be right." With all the yuppies > moving into farm country, they just don't understand that farms generate > odors (especially if you are spreading hog or chicken manure on your row > crop fields - it is better than chemicals if you are organically > inclined). So, they think they can move in and force farmers to stop > creating all those smells and sometimes insects. But, if you were there > first and are doing everything correctly, you can win. If you are lucky, > the yups move somewhere else. And, in any case, a properly done compost > pile doesn't smell and when it is done, it smells wonderful. Just stick > your hand in there and bring out a handful of that rich humus, earthworms > and all - I love that smell - of course, crazy one that I am, I don't mind > horse poop smell either, or cow. The yups are hiring companies to come > spray their yards with chemicals. Who is on a better environmental track > here? Not the yups. > > Excuse the rant. I am lucky to live where there is no zoning, yet I have > seen these newcomers try to put farmers out of business. > > Virgil > > > Having had first hand knowledge of the manure compost problem, I have > jumped > in to add my two cents. A manure compost pile may sound simple but in a > semi rural or populated area it is not simple. We almost lost our ability > to > do rescue because a neighbor - not within sight - objected to our compost > pile. ========== "Huston, Virgil H." ====== To: equinerescue@imagicomm.com From: "Huston, Virgil H." Subject: EQ-ResQ: manure composting Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 11:36:12 -0400 > Check out the ATTRA site (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural > Areas). They have a wealth of information relating to sustainable ag > practices. For example, here is a list of farm scale composting resources: > > http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/farmcompost.html > > If they don't already have a report or information, you can ask them a > question and get a detailed report back FOR FREE. I once asked them about > the commercial viability of farming echinacea commercially. They sent me a > huge packet with copies of articles, research papers, etc. I have used > them for other info, as well, and they are great. They are nonprofit, but > largely supported by US Dept of Ag. > > Virgil > > > I found a great horse poop composting sight. It even tells you where to > get > some help with funding for the bins. They use a 50 horse ranch for > example. > > http://burke.ces.state.nc.us/pubs/horse/compost.shtml ========== "Huston, Virgil H." ====== To: equinerescue@imagicomm.com From: CC40058@aol.com Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: manure composting Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 14:02:28 EDT Our state, KY, is one that is trying to go to voluntarily managing animal waste before the feds step in and make us. Our local Department of Agriculture office has books where we make a voluntary plan, and turn that in (anyone over 10 acres), and also in that book it has instructions and ideas on the various plans. Plans run from simply using a harrow to break up the piles so they blend in the field, to intricate holding ponds which you can dip out of later for liquid fertilizer...I would think that would be a smelly place! Caroline ========== CC40058@aol.com ====== Disclaimer: Please note that none of the information contained in these files is meant to be professional information. Consult your vet, attorney or other professional for their advice.