Managing Horse Manure

http://www.horsesforcleanwater.com/tipsheets/index.html

Alayne Blicke's Horses for Clean Water program will answer a lot of questions. In the NW, many conservation districts run manure exchanges or other similar programs.

Gayle Hoffman
intern
NWSEED
UnitedStates

Hi Don,

If it's Ottawa, and it's horse manure, I suspect you're either dealing with RCMP musical ride byproduct, or Experimental Farm byproduct. In either case, it should bring a premium price if you can bag and sell it with its own 'private label'. Imagine being able to say that 'these roses were grown with the help of the RCMP'. Problem is, I imagine some of the local marijuana growers might buy a bag or two as well, just for the irony. :-)

Norm

Don,

The main issue that we have come across involves contamination. From commercial stables we get loads which have lots of syringes, plastic tubing, infusion bags etc. Commercial composters are not willing to accept this material and I would suggest that it wouldn't be acceptable to a home gardener. We have tried to educate the stable owners/managers but this is an ongoing problem. It has also been suggested that this material is not suitable for home gardeners due to the high level of pharmaceuticals in the faeces, in particular antibiotics. This is less of an issue for commercial composters as it is only a very small proportion of the total volume of composted material.

Michael

Don,

Two good resources for this type of information are Comprehensive Nutrient management plan at http://www.cnmpwatch.com/ and the Rhode Island folks at Healthy Landscapes http://www.uri.edu/ce/healthylandscapes/

Patti Mason

Outreach & Watershed Coordinator
Flathead Conservation District
133 Interstate Lane Kalispell, MT 59901
406-752-4220 [email protected]

In the Twin Cities, we've got a test pilot Source Separated Organics (kitchen waste) program, where the waste goes to a facility, is put in plastic tubed windrows and aerated & turns into compost. This stuff is then used by landscaping firms and in road construction for the verges. I know that in home compost, a mix of 'green and brown' waste helps kick off the heating process that kills pathogens. I'm wondering if an industrial composting facility like that could use a ready source of 'green.' --

*Karen Engelsen,

Writing Consultant
Mighty Oak Media Services
Writing, Editing, Book Doctoring and Promotions
Web: home.earthlink.net/~siribear

1 tonne a day !! Sell it as fast as you can !! ..by any means.. bring a truck, trailer, wheelbarrow, bags, anything that will contain it .. (be careful because hessian bags will rot after a while, leaving a pile of s... and no handles). Horse poo is absolutely terrific for roses but will also promote vigorous growth in many fruit and veg plants. Sorry I can't point to specific sales outlets but that's a marvellous product to be able to offer gardeners.

regards
Lisha K.

Tel: (07) 4781 6535
Mobile: 0438 011 550

Hello Don,

In Pennsylvania, they have a 'marketplace for manure'. Visit www.manuretrader.org to see the 'wanted' ads.

Norm Ruttan

iWasteNot Systems
Materials Exchanges;
Recycling Websites;
Recycling Guides & Directories
www.iwastenotsystems.com