Cowpeat - Newsletter

Aurora Dairy teams with Sustainable Solutions, LLC to compost cow manure.

Baconton , GA November 2005

Dairy Production Systems from High Springs , FL announced today that it has teamed with Agrigy Inc, out of Clearwater Florida , to form a new company called Sustainable Solutions, LLC. They plan to address the fast-growing problem of cow manure and dairy-related waste by creating a very high quality soil amendment at Aurora Dairy - Georgia , located near Baconton , GA.

The United States has been faced with the question of how to handle waste from agricultural operations for a number of years. Pressure is being exerted through environmentalist groups and politicians to change the manner in which manure is dealt with. Traditional methods of manure disposal, such as spreading it on the land, are less suitable today, especially with urban dwellers spilling over into the farming countryside. In poorly-managed operations there have been cases where runoff into the rivers and streams has been well documented. High phosphorus levels in many bodies of water located near large dairy farms have been traced to dairy cow rations. The solution to a dairy industry problem may also be the solution to a horticultural industry problem. As the horticulture industry expands in the United States, the need for potting soil increases. Native peat is an integral component of potting soil for nurseries. As the availability of native peat decreases, an economically competitive alternative is essential. Composted cow manure is that alternative to native peat.

Composting raw cow manure at Aurora Dairy started mid-October using the windrow method of composting. Windrow composting is a process for biodegrading organic material aerobically. The process produces heat that destroys pathogens and produces a stabilized compost product. Aurora Dairy is a 3,000-cow milking operation with each cow generating approximately 10 cubic yards of raw cow manure a year. That's 30,000 cubic yards of compost per year! This composted cow manure will be sold under the name "Cowpeat".

Cowpeat will be primarily marketed in two areas, the horticultural industry and food growers (organic and non-organic). The horticultural industry could replace native peat with Cowpeat in potting mixes in plant nurseries. University of Florida researchers demonstrated the following advantages of Cowpeat when compared to native peat: The high compost processing temperatures kill nematodes and weed seeds. Cowpeat has a higher pH then native peat; therefore it does not need to be limed. It provides plants with micronutrients and microorganism diversity. Karol Klein of Duck Lake Trees & Shrubs out of Dade City, Florida used Cowpeat to transplant his entire 2005 crop of counties, which are herbaceous plants that look like a small fern or palm. His results were spectacular. Klein states it was the "most successful transplant that I've had since I've been in business". His failure rate for transplants was substantially lower, increasing his profit margins. He recommends Cowpeat to anyone as a potting amendment in their soil mixture.

Cowpeat is an all natural soil conditioner that can be used in organic and non-organic farming. It provides plants a better soil in which to grow by increasing the soil organic matter. It saves water by improving the water holding capacity of the soil. Cowpeat provides natural protection from diseases of roots due to the beneficial organisms that live in Cowpeat. It has no odor and provides needed nutrients to the plants.
Organic strawberry growers, Ron and Cherri Clark, from Jordan Farms in Dover , Florida used Cowpeat in their strawberry growing operation in 2005. Clark states that he had his best year ever. Cowpeat was amended in the soil and his production yields were up by 68%.

Wow, 68% increase, that's incredible. Sustainable Solutions, LLC has found a way to handle waste from agricultural operations with a commitment to helping our environment by producing a much needed renewable resource.