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Mon, Apr 16, 12 at 10:21
| I have a few questions regarding mulching with old moldy hay. I have used old spoiled hay in my garden for 2 years now and absolutely love the weed control. We grow everything using organic methods. Last year we had flooding that occured from June 18th-Aug. I had a farmer tell me they had tons of "flood damaged" hay that I could have. I have a few concerns and wanted to get some opinions. First, I am concerned about chemical contamination. Most of the crops grown in the area are conventional corn and soy. I am concerned about the possibility of chemical residue in the hay. Second, I am also concerned about the possibility of other contaminates. Any suggestions or advice on looking at the hay for mulch.
Oh, I am aware of farmers lung and I wear a mask when dealing with old moldy hay. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by darth_weeder z7 NY (My Page) on Mon, Apr 16, 12 at 10:31
| I guess it's really hard to say without getting a scientific analysis of tghe hay. If I was that worried I'd probably pass on it. Just my oppinion. Looking forward to what others will say. |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Mon, Apr 16, 12 at 12:08
| Unless you know the farm it came from had some kind of spill, like their pesticide storage shed was flooded and stuff ran all over the place (very unlikely), it's not going to be a significant issue. Flood water is not safe to drink but it's more because of the flooded sewage plants and feedlots than anything else. I'd use the heck out of free hay for composting! |
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| for me i'd simply use it is costing nothing and being flood damage probably went someway to cleaning out any chem' residual. very hard and often very expensive for us gardeners if we don't simply use what is affordable and available, we use sugar cane mulch all the time can't be too concerned about the chemical applications they use or we'd have nothing to use. in the end i don't think you have a lot to worry about other than transporting from the farm to your garden. len |
Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Mon, Apr 16, 12 at 16:50
| You might want to check with the farmer that they did not use any of the persistant herbicides on their hayfields that have been known to survive through the composting process and damage plants for a year or two afterwards. Somewhere around here the list is posted. |
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- Posted by HealingHeartsFarm none (My Page) on Mon, Apr 16, 12 at 17:27
| Thanks for the suggestions. I am definitely going to talk with him about the hay. I found out he uses the hay for horse bedding. He doesn't actually farm any crops I guess. He is a veterinarian and bales it for his horse bedding. No pesticides or herbicides stored on his property. He has TONS of it! I am going to check it out this week. |
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| I would hope that a veterinarian would not use spoiled hay as bedding for his, or any other animals since they would tend to eat that hay that could now be contaminated with the Aspergillis fungi which can kill a horse. Even though spoiled hay can be contaminated with various of these fungi, such as this Aspergillis, and even though that of of more concern to you (or should be) then any pesticide residue (breathing the spores from them can result in very severe lung infections) I would not be very concerned about using that hay in my garden, especially since spreading some good hay around could, over time, result in the same molds growing in the hay in the garden. |
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| Ruth Stout used it in her No-Work Garden. If any weed did make it though, she added more rotten hay. |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Tue, Apr 17, 12 at 12:32
| In case you are worried about mold and fungus, the molds and fungi will retreat into the Soil Food Web after they've done their work of breaking down the fibers in the hay. Sometimes people worry about putting moldy stuff in the compost or seeing mold in the pile, but for the most part, it will do no harm and can do a lot of decomposing. If it's dry and giving off clouds of spores when you handle it, wear a mask, but in the end, it will become compost. |
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| Well I am very envious of your "tons" of free flood-damaged hay, with no contamination from pesticides! |
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- Posted by novascapes none (My Page) on Wed, Apr 18, 12 at 7:08
| Some herbicides used on hay fields have a residual which will stay even trough the composting process and even in the manure of animals fed the hay. They are designed to kill broadleaf plants. I would ask what if any herbicides were used. Grazon P&D is one to watch out for. |
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| The problem with the molds from wet hay is not in the soil but from the dust you can breath as you spread it around. |
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