Using Compost Tea to Enhance Growth of Pasture for Livestock Grazing

View the project final report

Commodities

• Agronomic: grass (misc. perennial), hay
• Animals: bovine

Practices

• Animal Production: feed/forage
• Crop Production: foliar feeding, organic fertilizers, application rate management, tissue analysis
• Education and Training: farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research
• Soil Management: earthworms, organic matter, soil analysis, soil quality/health

Certified organic beef producers who market their beef directly to consumers try to distinguish their product from that in supermarkets by pointing out that their animals are raised without hormones and antibiotics. They are also raised on pastures fertilized with certified amendments. This producer intends to use compost tea to fertilize his pastures. He will use his producer grant to make, and apply, his own compost tea from composted cow manure, leaf compost, worm castings and rock powders. He will establish four one-half acre test plots and also one-half acre control plots. He will test soil nutrients and grass nutrient levels to determine the success of the compost tea.