Market Farming

["Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>]

>Bill Shoemaker wrote:
>>
>> >why can't you plant carrots where there's horse manure?
>> >i've never heard of that one.
>> >
>>
>>     Two reasons. The most important is that if it isn't composted there
is a
>> risk, although slight, that it can be contaminated with an unsafe
>> microorganism.
>
>Pardon?
>
>Just what pathogens are you going to be at risk for from horse (not
>human) manure, and what is the likelihood of ever coming across any of
>them?
>
>--
>Holly ;-D
>Contrary Peasant
>sojournr AT missouri.org


    As I said before, the risk is slight, but real. Salmonella bacteria, a
source of food poisoning, can be found in animal manure. There isn't any
sense in taking any risk with raw manure when the manure can be composted to
eliminate the risk.

    This is partly why the FDA is imposing pasteurization regulations on
apple cider makers. There have been a few instances where cider has been
found to be contaminated by salmonella where apple drops (fallen from the
tree) were used. Animal droppings, including deer, have been implicated in
some of those cases.

Bill Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
Univ of Illinois - St Charles Hort Research Center