Sludge " Bio-solids" Opinions

[BobbyLummus]

Always looking to improve pasture condition/profit on our farm. Seems to be a controversial issue around here . I'm on the fence ... The county in South Carolina where I live will deliver + spread with a phone call and two weeks notice for free . I'm interested in others opinions on this

 

[Angus Cowman]

be prepared to lime extensively
I leased some ground that sludge was applied to and it usually took at least a 1.5 tons per acre and usually took more
lime was cheap where I was so no big deal if lime is high in your area it may not benefit you
I also wasn't impressed with the results of the sludge compared to turkey litter or conventional fert

 

[Jogeephus]

Friend of mine in Chester County always used chemical sludge from a factory. They would even lime it at no charge for him. His pastures always looked good.

 

[snake67]

This has been discussed before - just recently - do a search on it.

The risk of the "other things" that go down the toilet and CANNOT be removed is high.

Trace minerals - not always good ones, chemicals, prescription and illegal drugs and the like.

There are several studies that have come out of universities that state the risk might be high enough to not take the reward of cheap and often free fertilizer.

Personally I will not have it on the place and I have stopped buying hay from a neighbour that has used it.

If you have customers buying your beef ask them if they like it in their meat.

It is a free world - well sort of, but I know more than a few who stay away from it - myself included. And I will not knowingly buy from anyone who uses it.

Bez

 

[NC Liz 2]

There is a difference between (sewer) sludge and bio-solids.
The bio-solids that was put down in my area was 60% lime with heavy metals removed.
But there are some restrictions. No cattle on it for 30day, 50 foot from property lines and waterways.
I used it and I highly recommend it.

It's late and I can't remember the companies name, but I will get it for you tomorrow.

See: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=78834&hilit=biosolids
Liz

 

[NC Liz 2]

Here is the CO who applied mine at no cost.
And I see MW used the same Co.
Liz
http://www.synagro.com/solutions/produc ... ertilizer/

 

[Aaron]

This has been discussed before - just recently - do a search on it.

The risk of the "other things" that go down the toilet and CANNOT be removed is high.

Trace minerals - not always good ones, chemicals, prescription and illegal drugs and the like.

There are several studies that have come out of universities that state the risk might be high enough to not take the reward of cheap and often free fertilizer.

Personally I will not have it on the place and I have stopped buying hay from a neighbour that has used it.

If you have customers buying your beef ask them if they like it in their meat.

It is a free world - well sort of, but I know more than a few who stay away from it - myself included. And I will not knowingly buy from anyone who uses it.

Bez

I had no idea it was even legal to do in Ontario. Crazy. Neighbor is a pumper man and he spreads it regularly on his place. Always thought he was 'flying under the radar'.

 

[Jogeephus]

If you have customers buying your beef ask them if they like it in their meat.

Of course if you cater to the organic crowd then I would think they would expect nothing less than for you to use it.

 

[Dave]

If you have customers buying your beef ask them if they like it in their meat.

Of course if you cater to the organic crowd then I would think they would expect nothing less than for you to use it.

If you are certified organic there is no way that you can use it.

I have never spread it on pasture but I have bought and fed a lot of hay that was fertilized with it. The hay tests good. The cows like it and eat it good and do well on it. When it comes down to it plants take up the same 17 essential elements. It does make a bunch of difference what the source of those elements is.

 

[Richardin52]

All my pastures and hay fields are cert. organic so I cannot use it. That said if it does not have heavy metals in it then anything else I would think would be broken down by bacteria given some time. Don't know about where you live but in my state they would be required to have a paper on it telling you if it had heavy metals in it and how much was in it.

 

[Hook]

Heavy metals are the least of the issues with it

 

[Bigfoot]

It might be a mistake, but I'd spread it in a minute, if it was available in my area. The last time the subject came up I called our local plant about doing it. They said it was perfectly fine to do do, they just didn't fool with because of the bad PR. I think ours is sent to the land fill.

 

[snake67]

Well, letting too much out of thebag, I have a pretty good background in heavy metals and other types of pollutants - and a bit of an education in drugs and how they tend to linger.

It is very expensive and quite difficult to get them out of "things"

Be that as it may I will not use it as I do not believe all that I have read here.

The other thing I like to mention is that this is relatively new technology - remember when they used to think smoking was cool? Things change over time.

Sometimes it is ok to jump in with both feet - but I would recommend caution - chasing the freebies can be very expensive if things change.

And I know for certain that no one who buys beef from me would accept it - and that is the litmus test

I also know that many people would be hesitant to eat beef fed with chicken litter - an approved food in the US of A ag world - but would send me a big fine and a possible jail term in Canada.

I am always leary of experts with an agenda - and there is an agenda - it needs to be disposed of. And it is often done for free.

Is there truly anything free in life? I suspect this schitte will - down the road - come with some strings attached.

All I personally ask is that you who are considering - do some real deep thinking on it. Ten years from now you might regret it.

Best to all

Bez

 

[Bigfoot]

Sometimes I listen to reason. I allow Bez is right on this one.

 

[TexasBred]

Many of these winter time veggies from Mexico and other countries are grown almost entirely with human waste....untreated most times. You'd be amazed at what is also in some cattle, swine, and poultry feeds and people love those sources.

 

[Hook]

Many of these winter time veggies from Mexico and other countries are grown almost entirely with human waste....untreated most times. You'd be amazed at what is also in some cattle, swine, and poultry feeds and people love those sources.

Does that make it right? That people don't know about it :cowboy:

 

[M Thomason]

3 Men in my county have used this on pastures in 2013. It's class A supposed to be pathogen free with no restrictions as far as application. The distributor said for the last 20yrs it's been shipped to Florida to orange groves. How many of you drink OJ from Florida ??

 

[Jogeephus]

Not all bio-solids are created the same. Some, like chicken litter, can be overused and will cause buildups in your soils of metals or micronutrients which in the extreme will harm your soil. A plant only absorbs the nutrients it needs through its roots. Nitrogen from manure is the same as nitrogen from ammonium nitrate. Its just nitrogen.

 

[TexasBred]

Many of these winter time veggies from Mexico and other countries are grown almost entirely with human waste....untreated most times. You'd be amazed at what is also in some cattle, swine, and poultry feeds and people love those sources.

Does that make it right? That people don't know about it :cowboy:

Does it make it harmful if you don't know your tomato was grown in raw human excrement or raw cow manure?? Why is cow manure accepted and human manure frowned on? Just a stigma??

 

[NC Liz 2]

Would all manufacturers and/or sales representatives of lime and/or fertilizer please raise their hands.
Liz