How do you know if straw is safe in the compost bin

[Gardening with Rabbits]

If you are a purist then you won't want to use anything sprayed with Round-Up, but it won't cause problems in your compost pile or gardens. Picloram is the herbicide to watch out for. Anything sprayed with Picloram will remain toxic to soil for several years - even hay or grains passed through farm animals' digestive system are dangerous if used in the garden or compost pile.

The easiest way I know of to test for Picloram in straw, hay, or manure is to plant a few peas. Legumes are especially sensitive to the effects of Picloram and will quickly die while other veggies may just show poor growth and small harvests for the years it takes to remove the toxicity from the soil.

I read something about the peas. Are you saying to mulch with the hay or straw around the peas or to go ahead and make the compost and then test it?

 

[digitS']

GwR may be particularly sensitive to the issue of contaminated compost because of the scandal in this area about 12 years ago.

Washington State University was in the composting business. Their compost was contaminated with herbicide. They did a good deal of testing of composts in the following years, the state legislature banned the use of clopyralid but only for residential use, WSU published its research (with no reference to their own compost), a lot of taxpayer money was spent, and that was that.

Here is the story beginning to break in 2001 when WSU began to realize that they had to get off their duff and start doing something about the problem: Herbicide Contamination A Growing Problem for Composters (link).

Everything WSU had to say during that time seemed to me to be CYA. Since they sold the compost to several organic farmers, who lost crops and certification, there were settlements. There must have also been agreements on what could be said about the mess. And, it is much bigger than one land-grant university on the border of WA & ID. After all, it is an ag industry problem and the herbicide doesn't just persist in compost and cause trouble that way. Further, the herbicide wasn't/isn't just used on lawns.

Lynn mentions picloram so you see, it wasn't/isn't just clopyralid that causes problems by not going away when we would like it to go away.

Steve

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I never heard of it. I have been hauling horse and cow manure into the yard for several years without a care in the world. We do not use any pesticides EVER, but then I go to the store and buy food that is not organic. I will not use artificial sugar. I just cannot keep up with all of it.

My parents did not have me or my brother vaccinated for anything. We drank raw milk starting as infants. I remembered the vaccines when I had my DD, so both my children are not vaccinated, but they did not have raw milk or organic food. When my DS was almost 2 he hurt his ankle and doctors thought he had rheumatoid arthritis. I knew he didn't, but let them test and he had a positive ANA. He did not have RA and had hurt his ankle, but for sure had the positive ANA. DH had a positive ANA and has Raynaud's. DD has not been tested or me, so I started looking into this and how to build a good immune system and starting buying raw milk and changing things. I started a garden and knew that I did not want pesticides. I never once thought about where the manure came from. I knew it came from a horse farm.

I started wondering about manure when we got the rabbits. I read rabbit manure was good. I read what to feed them and that they needed hay. The first bale I got was from a man that said his was not sprayed and that he would never do that again. He said he would be spraying next year. I realized if they ate hay that I did not want the hay to be sprayed and I did not know what would hurt rabbits, so I found hay that has not been sprayed. I did put a bale of straw in the compost bin last fall. I had bought a bale for mulching and never thought about it until today when I was backing the truck out of the drive and I wondered if the straw had been sprayed. I called and they said they had no idea, but probably yes. I called a couple of other places and they said they did not know. I plan on putting the straw in the litter boxes and I know they will eat some of it. I think the straw will be better for the compost bin and it is cheaper.

 

[so lucky]

This is not something I have given a thought to, until now. I use straw in my chicken house, then in the compost pile, then in the garden. I also use fresh straw in the garden as mulch. It seems as hard as you try, you can't get away from toxic substances. I am a little discouraged right now.
I know, in the past, people have lived perfectly well just eating and using what is readily available, but as toxins get more and more prevalent in every aspect of living, we seem to be getting sicker and feeling less than healthy. It is so overwhelming to try to get away from the toxins. I don't live in a bubble. When I am in a suspicious mood, I think we mere "folks" are the butt of a big joke from the Powers That Be. (not from God, but from mortal powers) I think I'll go back to bed.

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I never really gave a thought to it either. I have other things I give thought to and all I do is get upset, but now I am really upset and not sure if I am upset over nothing. I saw an ad for wheat straw. I called and asked if it was sprayed and he said something like with herbicideS and stuff like that. I said do you know the name and he said
2,4-D. I looked it up Used in over 1,500 products including Agent Orange. It does break down after thorough composting but over one year required.

Well, I do not want it for my compost, but now do I want to eat BREAD! I found some grass hay today that has not been sprayed with anything and just down the road from me. I asked him about straw and he said he thinks it will be impossible to find any straw that has not been sprayed.

 

[seedcorn]

G/rabbits, it will be next to impossible to find wheat (or any grain or stover) that hasn't had a chemical applied--even organic might--organic uses "approved" chemicals.

2-4D has a half life of 6.2 days in use. They apply 6 oz/A. Over half goes on weeds and to the soil. You take 6,000# of wheat and another 6,000# of straw off. Again every 6.2 days the quantity is halved, how much do you think is on that straw or grain after 90 days? You will get more on your shoes walking on your neighbors manicured lawn. Relax.

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I read what you said about the half life. I am not going to get any straw right now. I have to read more about this.