What to do with years of straw bedding in barn?

[boomer1025]

To me, compost would be much more valuable than plain straw. I would pile and compost all of it, to be used in a couple years on gardens, around trees, yards, etc.

This is the best answer, pile it in one spot and let it rot down. That way if there is any weed seeds in the straw you can keep turning the pile. Depending on the quality of the straw, it could be full of weed seeds.
Add some green and brown yard waste to the pile and stir it up.

 

[ning]

Putting manure on "steep" slopes, where erosion happens, leads to fertilizer runoff and is irresponsible and, in some places, illegal. We do use straw bales staked to the ground for erosion control. As others have stated, making a pile will let it compost...gardeners will like it.

Banning of phosphorus fertilizer in Washington and other states:
STATE LAWS BANNING PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER USE

Probably depends on where the run-off is going. If the run-off can use the fertilization from the liquified poops, cool. If it's going into a waterway... not cool. As oosik said, it could be a good use of straw, or it may not be.
Composting is sounds like a great idea - as long as, similarly, there's nowhere than potential run-off will pollute (lousy compost pile location if it does, but hey, same thing with erosion control, right?).

 

[oosik]

ning - Absolutely, you understand the point completely. It all depends upon what you use, the manner in which it is deployed, is there going to be runoff, where will it go, is the runoff an enhancement or detriment to the environment. Most times its best to evaluate a situation and not make irresponsible decisions.

 

[mroberts5]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I hadn't thought of erosion control. Our property is on a long low slope (we're near the bottom of 140 ft of rise over about 2/3 of a mile), so we always have a good amount of water coming through on big rains. We have a drainage creek cut across the property that then diverts around the house, BUT: when we moved in there was a good acre of a 20+ year wisteria "grove" that we cleaned out. The only thing the wisteria was good for was soaking up a lot of that water, so as you can imagine erosion is a bit of a problem as we're replanting. I would be very happy to slow this water down and spread it out. Any suggestions on how to lay the material and keep it in place?

I appreciate the concerns on nitrogen, but i have a hard time imagining whats in there is too much or too hot.

 

[MossRoad]

You will have a tough time using poop containing loose straw as erosion control. No one spreads straw for erosion control. They spread straw over newly planted grass seed to keep it moist, so that the grass seed germinates, sprouts, stays moist, grows roots and THAT is what controls the erosion.

The only time you'll see straw used for erosion control is in bales, staked to the ground, in swales and ditches, to slow the flow of water.

You wouldn't want to spread poop containing straw onto a slope unless you know where the slope ends up. You don't want rain or irrigation to wash the manure downhill, running into waterways, ponds, wetlands, etc....

So, you wouldn't want to use manure filled straw, even if it was bailed, as erosion control.

Use it for compost in a garden or flower beds. That would be the best use.

 

[4get gto]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I hadn't thought of erosion control. Our property is on a long low slope (we're near the bottom of 140 ft of rise over about 2/3 of a mile), so we always have a good amount of water coming through on big rains. We have a drainage creek cut across the property that then diverts around the house, BUT: when we moved in there was a good acre of a 20+ year wisteria "grove" that we cleaned out. The only thing the wisteria was good for was soaking up a lot of that water, so as you can imagine erosion is a bit of a problem as we're replanting. I would be very happy to slow this water down and spread it out. Any suggestions on how to lay the material and keep it in place?

I appreciate the concerns on nitrogen, but i have a hard time imagining whats in there is too much or too hot.

Bucks County....well populated for the most part. People there can afford good lawyers.

 

[ruffdog]

Bucks County....well populated for the most part. People there can afford good lawyers.

I know, I know.............:duh:

 

[TheMan419]

Depends on how fast you want it "gone". Compost would be the best use for it as others have said. That means however work to turn the pile, keeping the pile the proper moisture content etc.

Burning it will get rid of it quickly, but has its own problems.....

 

[mroberts5]

compost it is then - thanks for the feedback.

 

[Rustyiron]

Have you tried to remove it yet?
Years ago Dad bought an old place with a conventional dairy barn with gutters. There was 6-8" of sheepchit & hay on the outside (upper) elevation of the concrete level across to the other side. That meant about a 2' depth in the middle plus another 8" down into the gutters. I ended up actually jack hammering manageable chunks out. It also grew the most amazing crop of sweet corn that I've ever had. A ton of work and the ammonia smell...... whew! A skid loader wouldn't tough it and not enough head room for a back hoe. Mini ex's were not around yet at that time.