Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Steam Rolled Barley?

market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Market Farming

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: KAKerby AT aol.com
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Steam Rolled Barley?
  • Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:18:03 -0400 (EDT)

I think it's the straw, not the barley grain, that is required.  But I know that online pond supply retailers usually carry "barley balls" for natural pest control.  Those barley balls are pretty common, or at least used to be.  I Googled "pond supplies barley" and it auto-filled-in the "straw", then gave me a lot of hits.  You should be able to get a box of barley straw balls or wads or something for a reasonable amount without buying a whole bale. 
Kathryn Kerby
frogchorusfarm.com
Snohomish, WA
 
In a message dated 8/30/2010 7:10:02 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, barkingcatfarm AT mindspring.com writes:
I have seen several references and recommendations to use barley straw in early Spring for control of algae in pond water. Problem is nobody in my area (NE TX, Zones 7 & *) grows barley and having it shipped in is cost-prohibitive.  Closest I've found is in Missouri or Kansas.  I have found a local feed store that carries steam rolled barley in 50 lb. bags for less than $10/bag.  Anybody know if this is a good barley straw alternative? 

My pond is only 1/3 acre in surface area, a little over half a million gallons when full.  We have wicked awful filamentous algae problems, as well as iron issues (14-15 ppm, so iron bacteria loves us).  Oh, and low pH, 6.3 or so.  <sigh> 

According to what I've read, I would need only about 4 square bales of straw in early Spring, followed by another 4 bales about a month later to help manage the algae.  If the bags are a good alternative, anybody have good recommendations for application rate versus the straw bales?

Thanks in advance,
Laurie
Barking Cat Farm
NE TX
_______________________________________________
Market-farming mailing list
Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming

Market Farming List Archives may be found here:
https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/market-farming/
Unsubscribe from the list here (you will need to login in with your email
address and password):
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/market-farming



Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page