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  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflj@intrex.net>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [permaculture] Biogas production from crop residues: high nitrogen content of crops grown during drought
  • Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:30:40 -0500



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [growingsmallfarms] Nitrate Poisoning
Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:25:30 -0500
From: GrassFedBeef <grassfedbeef@nc.rr.com>

We just wanted to remind everyone to be extremely careful when feeding
livestock hay that was produced during the drought. Our neighbor had 6
cows die suddenly last night after eating hay he bought in Roanoke
Rapids. It was pearl millet hay, but high nitrate levels can be found
in lots of different types of hay and other feed stock. For example,
corn stalks or stover can be high in nitrates. The local Ag Extension
office can test hay for you to make sure that it does not have dangerous
nitrate levels. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms in animals of
nitrate poisoning--but they die quickly after they eat the high-nitrate
hay. Also, you cannot tell by looking at hay whether it is contaminated
or not.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

If this is true then there would seem to be even more reason to convert crop
residues
to biogas with added potential from crops grown during drought that did not
mature to
normal harvesting stage, a way to get value from them. Corn, wheat, etc.
could be planted normally
with the expectation that they would be used whether they matured or not with
the added benefit that
they could assume the role of catch crop, weed control and ground cover.




  • [permaculture] Biogas production from crop residues: high nitrogen content of crops grown during drought, Lawrence F. London, Jr., 12/31/2007

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