permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

At 07:44 PM 10/24/02 -0700, you wrote:

> Of course not.  The regulations should be written to state the
> conditions that allow safe compost tea to be made.  Aerobic through the
> whole brew cycle.  Lots of good aerobic bacteria, fungi and protozoa
> growing to compete with, inhibit and consume the E. coli.
> That gets rid of the E. coli and human pathogens.

My understanding is that E. coli 0157h7 is also more acid resistant than 
most other strains.  That makes it much more dangerous to humans than other 
strains and also limits which rumanent manure will have it as the dominant 
type, properly fed cattle run a alkaline pH due to their ability to secrete 
sodium bicarbonate in their saliva, but this is overwhelmed by high grain 
feeding.  Manure from high forage ration animals should be much safer than 
feed lot manure.

> If there is no E. coli in the starting materials, then why say there's a
> danger of E. coli.  At least compost tea made with non-manure materials
> should have been allowed.
>
> But no, no tea at all can be used.
>
> Anyone else feel like there's a hidden agenda here?

I wouldn't discount arrogance and stupidity, much more common than outright 
conspiracy.

> Elaine Ingham
> President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
> Director of Research, Soil Foodweb New York
> President, Soil Foodweb Institute, Lismore, Australia
> Director of Quality Assurance, Soil Foodweb Europe, The Netherlands

Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM