Issuu

March / April 2016

Vol. X No. 2

Serving Soil, Mulch, Compost & Wood Pellet Producers www.SoilandMulchProducerNews.com

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Study Linking Water Contamination to Mulch, Compost Facilities in Long Island, NY, Challenged

By P.J. Heller

study by Suffolk County (NY) health officials linking ground water contamination to nearby composting and mulch facilities — prompting New York State to consider new regulations on such operations — has generated numerous questions and widespread criticism and could have major implications nationwide for the industry. “I personally think it’s a croc . . . ” says Chris Sorge of Premium Mulch and Materials in Coram, when asked about the study. “What they did is completely statistically and scientifically invalid,” adds one industry consultant. “It’s a poorly designed study.” The report maintains that ground water samples taken near 11 current or former vegetative organic waste management sites between 2011 and 2014 showed elevated levels of metals, especially manganese. Other metals found at levels at least twice those of typical county shallow private wells included arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, molybdenum and titanium. Radiation levels were higher than normal, according to the report. Also found were low concentrations of pharmaceuticals, personal care products and wastewater related contaminants. The study in the Long Island communities was prompted after a previous investigation linked ground water contamination in a private well to operations at Long Island Compost/Great Gardens

in Yaphank. Some 40,000 homes in Suffolk County are served by private wells. “The concern on Long Island is we’re a solesource aquifer, so all of our drinking water comes from ground water,” explains Andy Rapiejko, associate hydrologist in the Suffolk County Department of Health Services’ Office of Water Resources. “We have no surface water or any other source of water other than ground water.” Some of the most contentious and conflicting issues in the current study include: what was responsible for the ground water contamination? Where did it come from? And, what methodology was used to gather the data? “It’s possible these are contaminants that were in the composting material unintentionally or coming from other sources,” says Henry J. Bokuniewicz, a professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. “This is Long Island, for God’s sake. There are lots of other sources around.” Bokuniewicz, however, believes the ground water contamination is directly linked to various composting and mulching sites. What is interesting about his opinion is that no one interviewed for this article — including mulch and compost companies, government officials, trade organizations and other experts — could cite any location elsewhere nationwide where ground water Continued on page 3

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2/23/2016 8:47:02 AM

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Study Linking Water Contamination to Mulch, Compost Facilities in Long Island, NY, Challenged Continued from page 1

contamination was definitively linked to compost or mulch facilities. Frank Franciosi, executive director of the US Composting Council, said there were many unanswered questions in the study and called the findings “dumbfounding.” Bob LaGasse, executive director of the Mulch & Soil Council, added “We have no evidence of any other jurisdiction claiming mulch or soil facilities cause ground water contamination for heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, personal care products or wastewater contaminants as is claimed in the LI studies. It seems counterintuitive that processing natural wood products and organic soils would be targeted as a source of contamination when other, more probable sources, such as auto salvage yards, mining operations and landfills are in, or in close proximity, to the study area. And, the study itself, suggests some confusion on the flow of underground water resources.” Nevertheless, some people theorize that such a link exists, accounting for elevated levels of metals, including manganese, in the water. None of the handful of examples they cite have been scientifically proven; one case that showed high levels of manganese, for example, involved an Oregon wood waste dump from the 1970s. according to the Connecticut Department of Pubic Health, manganese is a mineral that naturally occurs in rocks and soil, and its level in ground water from natural leaching processes can vary widely depending upon the types of rock and minerals present at the water table. High levels of manganese are associated with toxicity to the nervous system, causing serious health issues. “I don’t think we can pooh-pooh it [the connection between mulch/compost and ground water], but I think we have to be careful and diligent about planning for these types of facilities because I truly believe that it can adversely impact ground water quality in addition to impacting people’s drinking water wells,” says Bill Warzecha, supervising environmental analyst with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s remediation division. In its earlier study, Suffolk County tested compost directly on the site and found no elevated contaminants in the material. No such testing was done in the current study. Rather, 233 ground water samples were tested from 30 temporary profile wells and six permanent monitoring wells, all downgradient from the compost/mulch facilities. Two surface water samples were also collected. The county linked the ground water impacts to eight compost and mulch sites and said impacts were indeterminate at three locations. Rapiejko said the data was similar to results from the earlier study. “At many of these other 11 facilities that we investigated, we saw a very similar contaminant fingerprint: elevated metals, elevated potassium . . . so the conclusion is left that these types of facilities appear to have impacted the ground water.” Sorge, of Premium Mulch, is among those questioning the county’s findings. He offers

numerous theories, including previous landfill use, mining activity, an illegal toxic dumping operation in which tons of contaminated material, including asbestos, were left at several sites in Islip, and contaminated flood waters from Hurricane Sandy. “It just seems very odd to me,” Sorge says. “I really think the DEC (New York Department of Environmental Conservation) wants to put a clamp on either mulch producing or composting, but what are we supposed to do with the material. Do you want us to put it in a landfill?” According to an environmental specialist familiar with the county’s study, the results of the study are invalid because it failed to test up-gradient from the compost/mulch sites. “They just sampled down-gradient and they found contaminants, and they said, ‘OK, they’re down-gradient of the compost sites, therefore they (the contaminants) came from the compost sites.’ So what’s the big flaw there? They never took well samples above, up-gradient of the compost sites. If I was doing that for my dissertation or for a professor, they would have said go back to the study design because you can’t prove it. So what they did was just make assumptions; we found it, therefore it must be the vegetative composting facility,” he says. “The crazy part of this is they even attributed things that are not (typically found) at or in the compost to these facilities.” Rapiejko admits that the “mechanism” causing ground water contamination was not investigated. The county’s “working theory” is that as rainwater passes through the compost/mulch piles, biological activity uses up the oxygen in the water. As the low oxygen water seeps into the ground, it releases metals already in the soil, which then go into the ground water. Bokuniewicz, a professor of oceanography, says that while the compost and mulch piles “may not be the actual culprit for all the contaminants that they’re finding and may not actually be the source of the contamination itself,” they are contributing to conditions in the soil that are releasing the contaminants into the ground water. “These contaminants, these are things that are naturally occurring in the aquifer and they get released when the oxygen gets used up,” he explains. “At this stage,“ he says, “we believe the manganese and radium levels that caused some alarm — and some of the other more minor contaminants — came from the aquifer material itself, released under conditions of low dissolved oxygen in a plume from the composting facility. It is possible that some of the compounds came from different, nearby sources, unless the composting material itself was contaminated. That sort of fingerprinting is tough and I don’t think we’ll get that far.” If rainfall passing through piles is the issue, Sorge suggests similar contamination would occur elsewhere through natural decomposition when it rains on leaves and grass clippings on the ground. Bokuniewicz agrees, but contends it is a matter of “intensity.”

“The question is do they deplete the oxygen to the level that you start to release these other contaminants from the aquifer,” he asks. “Wherever you have this source of fuel for the biological communities that already exist in the soil, you’re going to have this process going on. It’s just a matter of the intensity of the process.” Questions remain about pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the ground water. Asked where those materials would come from in a compost/mulch facility, Rapiejko says he simply doesn’t know. “That’s a good question. It shouldn’t be there. We do see those kinds of products at low levels, but when we do see them . . . they are usually associated with some type of septic waste,” he says, noting the majority of homes and businesses (in the county) have their own septic systems that discharge directly into and onto the ground. Wells put in 15 feet from a compost pile not only showed elevated metals, but also pharmaceuticals at the top of the water table, he reports. Wells ranged in depth from 65 feet to 135 feet deep. “The only thing we can conclude is these things [personal care products and pharmaceuticals] are also coming from the compost,” he says. In the earlier county study, surface water

Continued on page 6

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PUBLICATION STAFF Publisher / Editor Rick Downing Contributing Editors / Writers H. Sterling Burnett • P.J. Heller Ann Purvis • Todd Williams Sandy Woodthorpe Production & Layout Barb Fontanelle • Christine Pavelka Advertising Sales Rick Downing Subscription / Circulation Donna Downing Editorial, Circulation & Advertising Office 6075 Hopkins Road, Mentor, OH 44060 Ph: 440-257-6453 • Fax: 440-257-6459 Email: downassoc2@oh.rr.com Subscription information, call 440-257-6453. Soil & Mulch Producer News is published bimonthly by Downing & Associates. Reproductions or transmission in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher, is prohibited. Annual subscription rate U.S. is $19.95. Outside of the U.S. add $10.00 ($29.95). Contact our main office, or mail-in the subscription form with payment. ©

March /April 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Retaining Valuable Mulch in Beds – A New Product, Mulch Tech Shield, Addresses an Old Problem By Todd Williams

s a long-time New Jersey residential developer, Bud Carelli was sick and tired of seeing his expensive landscaping mulch wash out onto streets, lawns and sidewalks every time it rained or was very windy. He was also fed up seeing the vibrant color of new mulch fade in the hot sun. So he decided to do something about it. Carelli spent nearly a decade chewing on the problem, eventually inventing and patenting Mulch Tech Shield, a treated mulch that he promises will not wash out of place, retards color fading, and blocks up to 90 percent of all weeds from popping up in the landscape beds. In 2010, Carelli patented a formula for binding mulch together, as well as a delivery system for this product. After making some changes to the formula, finding a proper mulch to apply it to and designing a package for it, Carelli was granted a patent for Mulch Tech Shield in 2015. To be sold in two cubic-foot bags, the product is a wet mixture of pure mulch and about 140-160 ounces of the non-toxic adhesive formula mixture of polymers, adhesives and more than 90 percent water. The product will cure, when exposed to air, in about 12 to 24 hours, depending on ambient air temperature. The warmer it is, the faster the mulch will cure, Carelli explains. “I’ve left sealed bags outside for two months and when reopened, the mulch is still fresh,” he says. However, he cautions, open bags must be resealed or the product will cure in the bag. Upon curing, Mulch Tech forms a firm, network of mulch chips firmly anchored together and resistant to weather conditions like rain and wind. It will retain its deep color, greatly limit

weed growth, and eliminate dangerous mulch fires, root rot and mold. And, adds Carelli, unwanted debris such as leaves, twigs and trash can be removed with a leaf blower or even a shop vacuum, without disturbing the mulch. According to Carelli, Mulch Tech is applied exactly as regular bagged mulch, with one important exception – it is applied at a depth of one inch instead of the three or four inch application of regular mulch. He points out that while Mulch Tech is more expensive than regular mulch, it takes about one third less product to cover the same area as traditional mulch. He says that because he only uses clean wood pallets to make his mulch, the product is free of trash, twigs, roots, insects and other unwanted substances. From these pallets, Carelli produces brown, black and red mulch. Once our product is thinly spread and cured, it will form a blanket to beautify the landscape beds, greatly reduce weed growth, yet will allow water, air, fertilizer and sunlight to filter down to the soil,” explains Carelli. Carelli expects to wholesale Mulch Tech for about $8 a bag and says it will likely retail for $13-$14. In addition to the basic bagged product, Carelli offers several more products to round out his line. First is the “Perimeter Series”. This is bagged mulch containing an additional amount of adhesive

formula. It permits the consumer to form more dense and higher borders around the beds, allowing for even better retention of soil. He notes that this product is especially useful to commercial landscapers applying mulch on beds around sidewalks and parking lots, as it prevents mulch from being trampled and spread by heavy foot traffic. Another product offered is the “Decorator Series”. This is a custom blended mixture of mulch, adhesive and a wide range of pigmented colors. The product allows the landscaper to create custom in-ground artwork in mulch, such as corporate logos, addresses, company names, accent art and other designs. “Without a doubt the Decorator Series is next in line to further the evolution of landscape art and decorative enhancement. It’s potential is only limited by your imagination,” says Carelli. And finally, there is the “tune-up kit.” This kit contains a mixture of adhesive and color which is used to restore the original mulch bed. The formula in the kit is sprayed on, using a patented “Gravity Flow Wand”, allowing the user to have complete control over where the product is applied. “Together,” Carelli concludes, “These products comprise a unique system for the consumer to address all problems in mulching and to create perfect landscaping.”

Federal Government Seeks Increased Funding for Land Acquisitions

BY ANN PURVIS

mong the $4.1 trillion in spending requests contained in the Obama administration’s 2017 budget proposal is $4.9 billion designated for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The allotted funds would pay for additional land acquisitions and programs that would limit or close entirely previously allowed agricultural and commercial uses of the lands purchased. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), created in 1965, is dedicated to acquiring lands for the federal estate and helping to fund state land purchases. LWCF is funded by royalties from offshore oil and gas production. LWCF funding was allowed to lapse in 2015 for the first time in its 50-year history. At the time funding lapsed, LWCF contained $20 billion. The lapse occurred amid disagreements in the U.S. Congress over proposed reforms to the program, including reforms that would have limited future federal land purchases and would have allowed some LWCF funds to be used to enhance, maintain, and preserve the lands the federal government already owns. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), chairman of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, released a draft bill to reform LWCF in November 2015. Bishop 4

Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2016

says his bill would “restore” LWCF to the role it was originally intended to have when it passed. “The law’s original intent was perverted long ago, when the federal government’s powerful drive to acquire more land gradually began crowding out the stateside program,” Bishop said. “This is what we are seeking to restore. “The Obama administration operates [LWCF] like it’s their own personal piggy bank,” said Bishop. “They refuse to tell us where the money is going and for what purpose.” Despite the concerns expressed by Bishop and other members of Congress who support LWCF reform, Congress extended LWCF funding for three years without making meaningful changes when it passed the December 2015 omnibus budget bill.

Budget Requests Dedicated Spending

resident Barack Obama’s proposed budget, released February 9, requests P Congress to provide $900 million in funds for LCWF, the full annual amount authorized by law. Congress authorized just $300 million in funding Continued on page7

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March /April 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News

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Study Linking Water Contamination to Mulch, Compost Facilities in Long Island, NY, Challenged

Continued from page 3

samples — puddles of rainwater that collected in a low spot next to a compost pile — showed pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the water. “So that would say to me that it’s not somebody’s cesspool,” Rapiejko says. “It wouldn’t be on the surface right next to the compost. The conclusion that you could make is that somehow, maybe, there’s some septic material getting mixed in with the compost. It’s a bit of a dicey subject because there are no facilities in Suffolk County approved by the state for biosolids or composting any of that material . . . There are some facilities that we did investigate that use manure, and also maybe some food products. Could some of these materials be mixed in . . . The answer is, I don’t know.” However, what Rapiejko fails to mention is that local septic systems could easily be a source of surface water contamination at any of the water test cites (located near compost/mulch piles), since septic field effluent will generally overflow into surface water during heavy rains and spring thaws. Also, the contaminants found in their surface water testing (personal care products and pharmaceuticals) are those most commonly found in septic systems. In the meantime, the state is moving ahead with efforts to control the compost and mulch industry through revisions to its solid-waste regulations. With those regulations on the horizon, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in December, vetoed a bill regulating mulch facilities on Long Island. Two months later, he launched a series of statewide water quality initiatives, including proposed regulations for mulch facilities. If adopted, they would mark the first time the state regulated mulch sites. “The proposed regulations will require facilities to establish water runoff management plans to protect ground water, and place restrictions on pile size and storage to reduce the risk of fires, odor and dust,” Cuomo said in his announcement. “In consultation with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, DEC will review mulch and compost sites on Long Island to determine if any

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water quality issues exist from the operation of these facilities and develop appropriate remedial action if necessary.” The state is accepting public comments through July15 on the proposed regulations. Public hearings and workshops are scheduled. Rapiejko says he believes there are engineering solutions that can address the contamination issues. “This is our drinking water, our ground water. My job is to protect it. If something’s impacting it, it should be addressed. I’m hopeful there will be some engineering solutions and requirements and maybe some monitoring aspects . . . It’s just really a matter of cost. I’m not against mulch or composting. It’s all necessary and needed.” Warzecha agrees. “Maybe we do have to pay closer attention to how this stuff is stored, managed and protected from the weather . . . if people nearby rely on drinking water from well water. The ingredients are there to create a problem, and managing it properly will go a long way to avoiding a problem.” Sorge, however, expresses concern about exactly what the regulations will require. “My property hasn’t been tested. I don’t have anything to hide. I’m not looking to hurt anyone.” he says, adding that depending on the new rules, he might have to change his entire business plan. To review the Suffolk County study please reference the following web link: http:// www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/HealthServices/EnvironmentalQuality/ FormsDocuments.aspx. Then click on the topic titled: Investigation of the Impacts to Groundwater Quality from Compost and Vegetative Organic Waste Management Facilities in Suffolk County.pdf. Anyone concerned about the study and/or the proposed regulations can submit comments to Suffolk County until July 15th.

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Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2016

Soil

Federal Government Seeks Increased Funding for Land Acquisitions Continued from page 4 for LWCF in 2015 and $450 million in 2016. To prevent the law from lapsing again, Obama’s budget requests Congress make LWCF permanent and provides a minimum of $425 million in annual mandatory funding. The 2017 budget proposes Congress increase actual spending on land acquisitions made through LWCF. Under current federal law, Congress is responsible for authorizing LWCF’s annual spending. The 2017 budget request would double the authorized amount spent for land acquisitions from the fund, from $63.5 million in 2016 to $128 million in 2017.

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ultiple agencies receive money from LWCF to purchase land, including M USFS, the National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

Critics of the LWCF say it’s a mistake to fund a greater amount of land acquisitions at a time when the federal government is struggling to maintain its current land holdings. As of 2014, USFS, BLM, FWS, and NPS had deferred an estimated $18.8 billion in combined maintenance costs. USFS, with a $5.1 billion backlog of maintenance projects, has struggled to maintain its trails. Only 26 percent of the agency’s trail miles met USFS standards in 2012. Substandard trails create safety risks and environmental harms. According to a 2016 report from the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), one-third of NPS trails were considered to be in “poor” or “seriously deficient” condition. PERC also says multiple parks face water system problems. Shawn Regan, PERC’s director of publications, says it would be a mistake for the federal government to make new land acquisitions when significant backlogs exist. “When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging,” said Regan. “When it comes to maintaining our federal lands, we’ve been in a hole for decades, yet we still acquire more federal lands without ensuring that our existing public lands are adequately cared for.” Regan says the National Park Service recently announced its deferred maintenance backlog has reached $11.9 billion. “That’s five times as high as [NPS’] entire annual appropriation from Congress,” Regan said. “This just goes to show the federal government should stop acquiring more public lands until it can adequately care for the lands it already controls.”

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ERC’s report suggests seven possible reforms for federal land management. P “Our first recommendation is to reform the Land and Water Conservation Fund to ensure any LWCF funds are used to address the existing

maintenance backlog in our national parks before it is used to acquire new lands,” said Regan. Regan says making funds available for deferred maintenance would allow agencies to better manage their lands. “If park managers were able to tap LWCF funds for facilities maintenance, [instead of just land acquisitions], the park managers themselves would be able determine what’s best for each individual park,” said Regan. PERC’s report also suggests disposing of some federal lands and reauthorizing legislation that would allow park managers to charge and retain recreation fees. “Under the status quo, LWCF will continue to lead to massive federal land grabs that compromise private property rights and economic opportunity for the American people,” Rep. Bishop said. “This must and will change.” Ann N. Purvis (ann.n.purvis@gmail.com) writes from Dallas, Texas. This article was reprinted with permission from heartland.org, a product of The Heartland Institute (http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2016/03/22/ obama-seeks-increased-funding-land-acquisitions).

www.mulchandsoilcouncil.org March /April 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Scientists Question Government’s Climate Data Quality BY H. STERLING BURNETT

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pproximately 300 scientists, engineers, economists, and other climate experts sent a letter on January 25 to U.S. House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) warning data the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) used to produce its June 2015 report purporting to find there had been no pause in rising global temperature during the past two decades failed to comply with the Data Quality Act (DQA). The letter says under DQA, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget requires agencies to “ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information, including statistical information,” particularly when data are used in “highly influential scientific assessments” meant to inform the public and shape public policy. What sparked the signatories’ concerns was the fact NOAA’s research conflicted with all other previous findings, including those produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which acknowledged there has been a pause in rising temperature over the past 18 years. Many scientists have expressed serious doubts concerning the quality and objectivity of NOAA’s June 2015 report published in Science.

NOAA’s adjustments to ocean temperature data between 1998 and 2012 made recent global temperature changes appear two times warmer than the original recorded measurements.

Lax Peer Review

he House Committee on Science Space “T and Technology is charged and qualified to insist that federal agencies obey the law of the land, in this case the Data Quality Act (DQA), which calls for a thorough peer review of ‘highly influential scientific assessment,’” said letter signatory William Happer, Ph.D., professor emeritus of physics at Princeton University. “The DQA recognizes scientific assessments of the federal government have a much greater weight than those from non-governmental research groups and should therefore be subject to more stringent peer review before publication. “NOAA has carried out admirable internal peer reviews that fully satisfied the DQA on other controversial scientific assessments … but the paper by Karl et al. was rushed into print with only the most cursory review by the journal Science,” Happer said. “If NOAA had obeyed the law and carried out the required peer review of [the report], this whole affair could have been avoided. Hopefully NOAA will obey the law in the future.” Another signatory, Lord Christopher Monckton, chief policy advisor to the Science and Public Policy Institute, said, “We wrote our letter as a reminder that the climate science community is as much subject to the law of the land as the rest of us. “Tampering with data at taxpayers’ expense in pursuit of a nakedly political objective that would have horrified the Founding Fathers of the United States is contrary to the law and may even be fraudulent,” Monckton said. “Be that as it may, the Data Quality Act must in the future be complied with.” INTERNET INFO William Happer, et al., Letter to Rep. Lamar Smith Concerning NOAA Data Quality Act Violation, January 25, 2016: https://www.heartland.org/policydocuments/300-scientists-letter-rep-lamar-smithconcerning-noaa-data-quality-act-violation H. Sterling Burnett, is a current director and past president of the Dallas Woods and Water Conservation Club; a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation; an academic advisor for Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow; and an advisor for the Energy, Natural Resources and Agricultural Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

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Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2016

This article was reprinted with permission from the March 2016 edition of Environment & Climate News (www.environmentandclimate-news.org), a national monthly publication devoted to sound science and free-market environmentalism.

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March /April 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Soil

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Testing Shows Soil Fertility Declining Nationwide

indings of a new study show a disturbing trend – North American farmers are taking more out of the ground than they are putting in, reports Agprofessional.com. In a state-by-state analysis of soil tests, researchers at PotashCorp used data from the company’s eKonomics program to analyze and compare soil nutrient balance levels of potassium and phosphorus at five-year intervals (2005, 2010, and 2015). As defined by the nonprofit Organisation for EconomicCo-operation and Development, nutrient balances provide information about environmental pressures. A nutrient deficit (negative value) indicates declining soil fertility. A nutrient surplus (positive data) indicates a risk of polluting soil, water and air. The nutrient balance is defined as the difference between the nutrient inputs entering a farming system (mainly livestock manure and fertilizers) and the nutrient outputs leaving the system (the uptake of nutrients for crop and pasture production). PotashCorp Director of Agronomy, Robert Mullen, Ph.D., who led the study, notes that while yields are increasing, fertilizer application rates are not keeping pace with nutrient declines. eKonomics compared the soil test data gathered by the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) and compared it with nutrient balance data for the same period. The most significant loss has been potassium, which affects plant shape, size, color, and taste among other attributes of healthy produce. Median levels of this element dropped below the established threshold in 26 states throughout the Midwest, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. In those areas, potassium declined an average of 18 ppm (parts per million) since 2010. The median soil test levels for phosphorus went down in 22 states an average of 9 ppm, but in 21 states the median soil test level increased by an average of 8 ppm. The trend of declining potassium and phosphorus levels translates into a greater need for fertilizer down the road as the nutrient balance deficit continues to expand. The 2015 IPNI soil test summary includes results from more than 7.5 million samples taken from U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

NY State Supreme Court Decides Against Southhampton Solid Waste Facility

outhhampton, NY – According to a report published by 27East.com, the State Supreme Court Appellate Division of New York recently struck down an appeal by Wainscott Sand & Gravel, a mining company, to continue its solid waste operations in Southampton, NY. The appeals court decision was unanimous, upholding a 2012 ruling by the Southampton Town Zoning Board of Appeals that Wainscott had challenged in State Supreme Court. The company is allowed to “store, sell and deliver sand, as well as receive trees, leaves and “other clearing debris” as part of its mine reclamation activities, according to the decision. Sand mining operations also may continue at the site, but the company may not process trees, brush, stumps, leaves and other clearing debris into topsoil or mulch, or store, sell and deliver mulch, topsoil and wood chips. In a statement to the press, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman explained that the solid waste operations were in violation of the town code. “The zoning board made a determination that only certain uses were preexisting, and that these other things that were happening on the site were not lawful, according to zoning—and that is what the court determined,” he said.

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March /April 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 11

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Mulch Producer NEWS

Roadless Rule Remains Controversial in Alaska

ashington, D.C. – According to an ADN.com article, the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear Alaska’s arguments in favor of an exemption to road building in the state’s protected national forests. The state had asked the High Court to consider overturning a 2001 rule barring the U.S. Forest Service from building roads to access timber in certain areas of two forests, the 17 million-acre Tongass National Forest and the 5.4 million-acre Chugach National Forest. Enacted during the Clinton administration, the road building ban has placed some 58.5 million acres nationwide off limits to logging companies. In Southeast Alaska, the so-called “roadless rule” set aside 9.3 million acres of the Tongass and most of the Chugach. In its petition, the attorney general’s office asked the Supreme Court to consider impacts of the roadless rule on the state’s timber and mineral industries, as well as efforts to increase renewable energy through biofuel and geothermal projects. Meanwhile, however, new forest management planning was underway at the U.S. Forest Service making the road ban issue effectively moot. The Forest Service plan for the Tongass is expected to eliminate logging in roadless and old-growth areas. In 2003, the George W. Bush administration supported an exemption to the road ban in the Tongass, but that ruling was struck down subsequently by two lower courts when the Tlingit Native Village of Kake and several environmental groups successfully challenged the Bush Administration’s reasoning. The attempt to overturn the 9th Circuit Court’s ruling on the Alaska exemption ends with the Supreme Court’s decision, but a challenge to the roadless rule is still pending in a lower court. In fact, the state participated in a federal advisory committee that weighed management options for the Tongass, along with timber and recreation industry representatives, as well as environmentalists. That committee unanimously recommended that there be no more logging in the forest’s roadless areas.

12 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2016

Technology Moves Logging into the Space Age

hree-dimensional mapping and analysis using laser scanning and space-based thermal imaging technologies is today’s leading edge method for managing forests and logging activity accurately and responsibly, according to an RT.com article. The Irish firm, Treemetrics, in partnership with the European Space Agency, is using drones and satellites to map and analyze timber stands in Russia, Australia, South America, and other countries. The system incorporates the tree mapping and dimensioning with a secure online database and a suite of decision making tools. According to the Treemetrics’ website, forest managers can access the software interface from many types of devices and from anyplace in the world with an Internet connection. This allows continuous monitoring of forest inventory, logging activity, and even market information. “We estimate 20 percent of global forest resources are currently going to waste as they are harvested,” Enda Keane, CEO of Treemetrics told RT. “What Treemetrics aims to deliver is more wood from fewer trees, through a complete end-to-end forest management system,” Keane explains. In addition to obtaining forest inventory data, satellite surveillance helps about 26 state forestry agencies keep tabs on isolated forest regions, allowing managers to quickly spot whether illegal logging is happening.

Soil

Indiana Biodigester Projects Pay Off

oshen, IN – Elkhart County, Indiana is home to a number of large biodigesters that are turning cow manure, food processing plant byproducts and other organic waste into profits, reports SouthBendTribune.com. The $7 million Green Cow Power Energy Center, built in 2015, operates two anaerobic digesters that process 100,000 gallons of manure per day from 1,500 head of cattle that live at an adjacent dairy. The company expects to see a return on that investment in about six years. • Along with the manure, Green Cow Power takes in some 60,000 gallons of food processing waste. The methane gas produced by the biodigester is then used to power three generators to produce a total of three megawatts of electricity. Most of that power is fed to the grid. • The biodigester at Culver Duck Farm uses blood and entrails from the nearly 6.5 million ducks it processes each year to power a $4 million facility that generates about 1.2 megawatts of power. The farm sells the energy to Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) • Homestead Dairy has been operating a digester since 2013 to generate about one megawatt of electricity, which it sells to NIPSCO. NIPSCO buys the power through its Feed in Tariff program, which has 112 participants, including biogas, wind and solar. The program’s first year, the utility bought about 6,200 megawatt-hours of electricity from participants’ renewable sources. That number increased to 96,000 megawatt-hours in 2015, said Kathleen Szot, a spokesperson for the utility. The farm that provides Green Cow Power’s manure saves about $1,200 a week in bedding hay costs by using the solids leftover after methane is extracted. In addition, some of the solids are sold as compost or mulch to farms and greenhouses. Green Cow Power sold 19 million gallons of the fertilizer last fall. Leftover liquid from biodigestion can be used as fertilizer. With fatty acids burned away in the anaerobic process, odors are minimal. The resulting fertilizer has a good balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for tillable land and greenhouses alike. Digesters also provide on-site electricity for plant operations. Typically, where a source of manure is located nearby, as in the case of Green Cow, the electricity is in farm buildings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists 247 operational anaerobic digester projects nationwide, according to its website. At least 13 more are under construction.

Mulch Producer NEWS

New Tool May Help Farmers Increase Irrigation Efficiency

awrence, KS – In a new hydrology experiment, researchers at the University of Kansas used laser scanning technology to map the flow of water through soil, reports a Photon.com article. Using a multistripe laser triangulation (MLT) scanning system, the scientists were able to quantify soil porosity (spaces between soil particles). Specifically, they were able to detect and map macroporosity, which refers to cavities larger than 75 μm. Macroporosity accommodates rapid transport of water and nutrients and affects efficient soil fertility and irrigation. Plant roots, soil cracks, soil fauna, and aggregation of soil particles into “peds” all create macropores in soil. Explains the study’s lead scientist, professor Daniel Hirmas, “A significant portion of water is transported through a relatively few number of large pores. Simply put, a soil pore that is twice as large as another will conduct sixteen times the volume of water as the smaller pore in the same amount of time.” A big advantage of MLT scanning is that it can be used to determine macroporosity in dry versus saturated soil. Thus, it can be used in the field to obtain immediate answers. The scientists hope their study leads to more efficient use of water for food production and better management of water resources, particularly in drought-prone areas of the world. Another benefit would be to anticipate water runoff and soil erosion, deposition, and sedimentation of surface water reservoirs.

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March /April 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 13

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Mulch Producer NEWS

North Carolina Utility Will be Powered by Hog and Poultry Manure

harlotte, NC – A new biodigestion facility, which will process swine and poultry waste, planned for construction in eastern North Carolina will supply fuel for four power stations in the state, reports waste-management-world.com. The North Carolina-based utility firm, Duke Energy, signed agreements to purchase methane gas from the new biodigester. In accordance with state law, the company registered the four plants with North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) as New Renewable Energy Facilities. Boulder, Colorado-based firm, Carbon Cycle Energy has been hired to build and operate the plant. Although no location has been announced, the facility is expected to be in eastern North Carolina. Carbon Cycle Energy and Duke have signed a 15-year term contract. According to Duke Energy, the new digester is expected to produce more than 1 million MMBtus (28.263682 m3) of pipelinequality captured methane per year. The company said that it expects to generate around 125,000 MWh of renewable energy per year from the biogas – enough to power about 10,000 homes for a year. In addition, renewable energy credits (RECs) generated annually by the effort will help satisfy state mandates. The efficiency of manure-based methane has been demonstrated by Duke University at Loyd Ray Farms near Yadkinville, N.C. since 2011. The university’s $1.08 million pilot program combines a 17-million gallon lagoon and a digester to convert manure from approximately 8,600 finishing pigs into electricity. The project generates enough power to run the cutting-edge manure treatment system, as well as about half of the farm’s operations. The utility benefits from Renewable Energy Credits.

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14 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2016

NYC Gears Up Food Waste Composting Program

ew York City, NY – New York City expects to triple its food waste collection in 2016, with a jump from 200,000 to 600,000 homes enrolled in the curbside program, reports NYDailyNews.com. City Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia said the program, which was launched in 2013, picked up 25,000 tons of organic material as of the end of 2015. Some 40% of city public schools have signed up to have their organic waste taken away to be turned into compost, in addition to 400 apartment buildings in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island. Currently, the compost program is voluntary. Food waste accounts for more than one-third of all the waste generated in the city.

Early Signs Point to Big Year of Consolidation in the Biofuels Business

os Angeles, CA – The North American biofuels industry saw dramatic consolidation of players in 2015, and signs so far this year point to an even greater number of mergers and acquisitions in 2016, a leading industry advisor says. “Our experience leads us to believe there will be an increased number of owners and boards of renewable fuel companies evaluating their options in 2016, if not testing the market for reasonable assessments of the value of their plants,” said Bruce Comer, founder and managing director at Los Angeles-based Ocean Park Advisors. The ethanol industry in particular is ripe for consolidation, Comer said. He noted there are still 94 stand-alone plants that account for 5.3 billion gallons, or 36 percent of domestic production. “With dampened expectations for profitability, mostly due to commodity prices and excessive production capacity, we expect most remaining non-strategic players to explore exits this year,” Comer said. The announcements made in the first few weeks of 2016 already provide a glimpse into the potential flow for the year, Comer said. Those include: • REG, a biodiesel producer based in Ames, Iowa, announced the acquisition of the 20 million gallon per year Sanimax biodiesel plant in Wisconsin, sending a signal that one of the industry leaders will continue building its armada of plants. •

Abengoa has begun to market its global, first-generation ethanol assets due to financial distress at the Spanish parent company. In the U.S., Abengoa owns six ethanol plants with a combined capacity of 381 MGPY. This could represent a challenge for the sector to absorb.

•

ADM announced a strategic review of its dry mills. With 1.7 BGPY comprised of three dry mills and five wet mills, ADM is the industry leader, and is now evaluating its commitment to the ethanol industry due to the long-term outlook on sector profitability.

“On the advanced biofuels and renewable chemical front, we think the limited availability of capital will also compel independent players to explore strategic collaborations or sales,” Comer said. In 2015, Ocean Park Advisors tracked 10 biofuels transactions worth an estimated $750 – $850 million in value. The deals involved 13 plants with 888 MGPY of production capacity. In addition, there were another three acquisitions of advanced biofuels/renewable chemical companies. “If the number of willing sellers was the limiting factor over the past few years, then the number of capable buyers might be the limiting factor in 2016,” Comer said. “However, we believe this could be the year that creates a leaner and more strategic biofuels industry to carry Americanmade renewable fuels into the coming decades.”

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March /April 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 15

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Mulch Producer NEWS

UnityPoint Health Accepts Food Waste Challenge

nityPoint Health, which operates Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa Lutheran and Methodist West hospitals has been minimizing its food waste by managing food storage and monitoring overproduction in its kitchens, reports DesMoinesRegister.com. The health care company’s landscaping crew also uses food waste to make the compost it uses on hospital grounds, according to Clif White, environmental coordinator. Signage and other educational tools are used to instruct employees and cafeteria customers on how to dispose of food waste properly. The hospital also is using tools to track consumption by cafeteria customers and patients to curb waste. Patients now have the option of ordering food roomservice style. In September 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an initiative to reduce the nation’s food waste by 50 percent in the next 15 years. The USDA and the Environmental Protection Agency are enlisting farmers, food manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants, schools, local governments and others in the effort. According to a Natural Resources Defense Council report, 40 percent of food in the U.S. is wasted, and the average American throws away about 20 pounds of food each month, worth between $28 and $43. If 15 percent less food was wasted, 25 million people could be fed, the report says. The US Environmental Protection Agency notes that approximately 33 million tons of food waste ends up in landfills each year.

Arizona Timber Industry Seeks Forest Thinning Work

ayson, AZ – Leaders from five eastern counties have asked the U.S. Forest Service to allow thinning in the 4,000-acre Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) area of the state, according to PaysonRoundup.com. Approval from the Forest Service would provide wood to a number of logging companies and mills that employ hundreds of workers in the region. Annually, another 15,000 acres would be added to the initial 4,000 acres. The Eastern Arizona Association, an organization of county governments, sent a letter U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell outlining economic and wildfire concerns that have mounted since the 4FRI project has been stalled due to obstacles faced by the current contractor, Good Earth AZ. The government group has the support of U.S. Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake. Good Earth AZ says it has been unable to move forward on already-approved thinning of the first 300,000-acre installment under the 4FRI plan. The company has cited access problems and says costs are higher than expected. The 4FRI program was conceived to thin up to a million acres of Arizona forest, primarily removing diseased and dead trees and others deemed vulnerable to pests or wildfire. The White Mountain Stewardship Project operated for a decade, with a taxpayer subsidy amounting to about $1,000 per acre for thinning projects. The Project helped support the local economy, spawning the creation of logging companies and supporting some mills and wood-burning power plants in the White Mountains. Project wood was limited, however, and this caused the loggers and mills to depend on wood and subsidies under the 4FRI program. To remedy the situation, the Eastern Arizona Counties Organization letter urges the Forest Service to shift contracts from Good Earth to the network of contractors created through the White Mountain Stewardship project. “Approximately 90 percent of the log utilization capacity in the White Mountains is shut down currently for lack of wood supply and the only biomass plant in Arizona is currently operating with only 1 ½ weeks of fuel,” said the letter. “This situation threatens the very survival of the industry that implemented the White Mountain Stewardship Contract for 10 years; that implemented more than 85 percent of all the 4FRI mechanical restoration treatments in FY2015; and that is poised to continue being the driving force behind implementation of most 4FRI mechanical thinning in 2016, 2017 and beyond,” the organization said.

16 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2016

A Plan to Prevent Spruce Budworm Damage

n July 2013 a virtual cloud of Choristoneura fumiferana, commonly known as spruce budworm moth, descended on areas of Quebec and New Brunswick, damaging more than 15 million acres of balsam fir and white spruce forests near the St. Lawrence River, reports a BangorDailyNews.com article. That year’s outbreak of more than one trillion spruce budworms lead to widespread tree defoliation in parts of Atlantic Canada, according to researchers with the University of Maine and the Canadian government. The economic impacts caused by budworm infestations can be substantial. The Maine Forest Service estimates that the last infestation killed between 20 million and 25 million cords of fir and spruce worth hundreds of millions of dollars. A similar outbreak in Maine today would have an economic impact of $794 million per year, according to a task force studying the issue. The first recorded outbreak of the spruce budworm in the United States occurred in Maine about 1807. Another outbreak followed in 1878. Since 1909 there have been waves of budworm out breaks throughout the Eastern United States and Canada. Scientists know that budworm moth populations explode every 30-60 years and researchers have discovered that swarms of the insects in flight are visible on Doppler radar. Anticipating the next cycle and being able to spot the insects on the move can be helpful, but other pest management and forestry techniques must be in place first. According to the U.S. Forest Service Forest Insect & Disease Leaflet 160, the newly hatched spruce budworm larva is very small and difficult to find because it bores into and feeds on needles or expanding buds. These larvae sever needles at the base, leaving them hanging in a thin silken web. The severed needles turn brown, giving the defoliated tree a scorched appearance. This condition is apparent from about mid-June until late August, depending on the weather and latitude. The U.S. Forest Service notes that young balsam fir trees (1.5- to 4.6-m tall) provide suitable hibernation sites for heavy overwintering populations of the budworm in the states bordering the Great Lakes and Canada. The pests are protected under the canopy of the mature balsam fir and white spruce. Removing the overstory trees and replanting the stand with non-susceptible species such as white pine, as well as applying insecticides to adjoining mature stands can protect the young stands nearby. Budworm outbreaks develop and gain momentum in the Northeastern United States only when there is a large proportion of mature and overmature balsam fir in the forest. Management practices including a greater use of balsam fir, regulating age classes to prevent the occurrence of over-mature balsam fir over large areas, and favoring or planting less susceptible species such as spruce make conditions generally unfavorable to the budworm and may materially reduce the risk of an outbreak. Carefully monitoring the budworms and removing the timber before the moths arrive is a priority, according to researchers at the University of Maine and the state entomologist for the Maine Forest Service. Together they have been making plans to counter the next budworm outbreak in that state, urging landowners to change their timber harvest plans and do a round of timely spraying. If the moths get to the trees, one option is to harvest the timber shortly after defoliation, while the trees are still viable. This may result in lower timber prices, but it will allow landowners to recoup some of their costs, given that the market is not soft. University of Maine experts note that today’s forests are healthier than before and new markets, such as biofuel, may help prevent some of the economic devastation that occurred in the past.

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March /April 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 17

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Mulch Producer NEWS

Super Market Chain Turns Food Waste into Marketable Product

es Moines, IA – The Hy-Vee supermarket chain is doing its part to divert food waste from landfills – something like 2 million pounds per year, according to DesMoinesRegister.com. Hy-Vee is a Des Moines-based, employee-owned chain of 240 supermarkets located throughout the Midwestern United States in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. “Our food waste includes outdated food; salads that didn’t sell. Also there are peelings from cutting fruit, cutting vegetables,” Hy-Vee Chief Executive Randy Edeker said. “Do you grind them up and send them down the sewer or do you collect them and recycle them? So we’re collecting to reuse and recycle.” Hy-Vee asked its employees to recycle cardboard, plastics, wood pallets and kitchen grease, and are now recycling unsold produce, meat and produce trimmings, floral clippings and other items. Edeker sees the initiative as both a moral responsibility and marketing tool. “There are things you do because you think customers are going to care about them and things you do because it’s the right thing to do,” he says. “We are by no means doing a great job yet … but we’re on a really good path.” Hy-Vee contracts with composting companies that pick up the organic waste such as food scraps, spoilage, and floral department trimmings. HyVee sells the compost and uses it to fertilize 69 community gardens often located adjacent to its stores. Hy-Vee and other grocers such as Whole Foods, Wal-Mart and Target are reducing landfill trips by donating unsold items to local food banks. In fiscal year 2015, Des Moines area Hy-Vee stores donated more than $3.5 million in food to local food banks and shelters, the company said.

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18 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2016

Heartland Biogas Project Consumes Millions of Pounds of Food Waste

ccording to a report on ktoo.org, last year, a record 130 billion pounds of food waste went to landfills, according to federal government statistics. But an equally astounding volume of food waste went to the Heartland Biogas Project, a 20-megawatt anaerobic digester located in Colorado. The Heartland biodigester, one of the largest in the U.S., has six 1.7 million gallon tanks on-site that hold manure and organic waste, including food waste. The facility is situated in cattle country outside the Boulder and Denver metropolitan areas, an ideal location for an anaerobic digester that converts this waste combo into methane gas. According to EDF Renewable Energy, which owns and operates Heartland, the digester can produce up to 4,700 MMBtu of biogas daily. The raw biogas gets processed into pipeline grade RNG, which is fed to an interstate pipeline where it’s sold to municipalities, such as Sacramento, on long-term contracts. This kind of arrangement can sway more cities toward biogas, but critics think the bandwagon may distract attention from the underlying issue: food. In particular, a lot of food that should not be wasted in the first place. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency are urging Americans to cut their food waste in half by 2030. Federal statistics show that an average family of four leaves more than two million calories, worth nearly $1500, uneaten each year. Food waste is inevitable even with careful purchasing, preparation and storage and while it’s being generated in huge quantities, biodigesters are a useful way to divert it from landfills.

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March /April 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 19

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Scientists Test Pecan Wood Chips for Use as Commercial Growing Substrate

as Cruces, NM – In the ornamental greenhouse and nursery industries, concerns over peatmoss availability, cost, and harvest restrictions have created an imminent need to identify alternative substrates used in the production of potted plants. Growers are looking to chipped wood products used as substrates, hoping to supplement peatmoss without the need for extensive changes in production practices. Scientists at New Mexico State University tested pecan wood for its feasibility as a substrate and revealed several recommendations that can inform growers’ choices. The authors of the study in the February 2016 issue of HortScience (hortsci.ashspublications. org) say there has been limited research into the use of hardwood chips in greenhouse substrates, as most studies have focused on soft woods such as pine. “Research is needed to determine growth and performance of potted plants in response to pecan wood-amended substrates, particularly for how fertilization practices should be modified to address potential nutrient limitations,” they explained. “Commercial production of pecan generates significant woody biomass from hedge prunings with little economic value,” said Geno Picchioni, corresponding author of the study. “Value-added uses could aid pecan growers, and one possible use is wood chips for potting substrates to lessen dependence on peatmoss, thereby aiding greenhouse growers.” The research design featured pecan wood substrates made of a peat-based formulation containing 67% peatmoss, 21% rice hulls, and 12% rockwool by volume. ‘Carpino’ garden chrysanthemum plants were grown for 60 days in five pecan wood chip substrate levels that substituted 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of peatmoss by volume. Three water-soluble fertilizer rates (nitrogen at 0, 200, or 400 mg·L1) were applied with each irrigation and to each of the wood substitution treatments. According to the authors, the findings supported several issues that had been previously determined, including high leaching fractions, reductions in substrate fertility, increases in substrate pH, and reductions in shoot growth and leaf nutrient levels. “High water-soluble fertilizer at 400-N proved necessary with even the smallest substitution of pecan wood chips (25%) to achieve comparable growth as a conventional system with only peatmoss and 200-N,” the authors noted. They said that the study showed a positive opportunity for using pecan wood chips in greenhouse substrates, but suggested that adjustments to water and fertilizer management are needed to realize the potential of the product. “When shredded pecan branches are recycled to the orchard floor, they complete a closed wood eco-cycle that, in New Mexico, may be the most reasonable disposal option at this time,” Picchioni said. “Based on our findings, greenhouse crops have potential to become part of the cycle and provide a valueadded option for pecan growers, which has proven successful in southern pine forests and plantations.”

Future of Biomass in Oregon

regon’s ten-year Energy Action Plan, which was released in 2012, emphasizes renewable energy sources and proposes a shift in state monies to fund institutional boilers, cogeneration facilities, and cellulosic biofuels production. Since 2012, state buildings and many school districts throughout Oregon have implemented conservation improvements. Schools have swapped out old oil boilers for highly efficient biomass boilers, for example. Only a small fraction (0.54 percent) of Oregon’s energy is generated by biomass, though a dozen industrial-scale biomass projects were underway when the Action Plan was created. Today, the state’s 17 existing power plants that were built or converted to use biomass are not operating, according to an article in High Country News. Other plants that are unable to finalize agreements with the utilities may go offline, as well. The Action Plan has helped keep alive ideas for using woody biomass in a variety of ways, particularly ones that leverage forest health restoration projects and also make use of forest residuals that otherwise would be destroyed by burning. In April, an alliance of private industry and educational institutions, the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA,) will convene two conferences to present the latest findings and discuss issues related to producing aviation biofuel from forestry residuals.

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Product/Equipment Profiles

REA JET Offers Wide-Range Technology for Coding and Marking Best Practices

or over 30 years, REA JET has been one of the global leaders in the coding and marking arena. Designed and manufactured to adapt to all manufacturing industries, REA JET provides flexible and reliable technology for any application. Applications in the mulch and soil industry often mean that you’re required to mark products in dusty or challenging environments. It’s important that the marking solutions provide clear and consistent printing, even under these conditions. Specifically created with harsh and dusty environments in mind, the REA JET Large Character Ink Jet Printer (DOD) is ideal for the production demands of the soil and much industry. Offered in 7-, 16- and 32- nozzle heads and with printing speeds up to 300 m/min (*application specific), the REA JET DOD is able to print text, barcodes and logos on a multitude of absorbent and non-absorbent surfaces. Contact REA JET today to further discuss your current coding and marking needs and learn more about the flexible and reliable technology offered. 440-232-0555 or sales@reajetus.com or visit www.reajetus.com.

Greenwood Farms Introduces the Mulch Color Drum

reenwood Far ms is p r o u d to add the new Mulch Color Drum to o u r l i n e o f coloring systems. This Drum is engineered to fit on any trommel style screeners and delivers the easiest, most efficient way to color mulch using liquid color. Our unique design will color coarse and fine mulch at a rate of 100-300 yards per hour depending on trommel size. The Drum design has been engineered to allow for efficiency and simplicity to the user. This is the most economically sound way to color large amounts of mulch. Try it and watch your profits soar! The Mulch Color Drum is Greenwood Farms answer to better results and more uniformly colored mulch using a liquid colorant. The Drum, along with our new & improved Color Critter, which uses dry colorant with minimal water, places our coloring systems in high demand. For more info & orders call Greenwood Farms 518-464-5030 ext. 4 or visit www.TMGgreen.com.

Lake Erie Portable Screeners Introduces New Pitbull 2300 Propane Screener

ClearSpan’s New Pavilion Building Creates the Ideal Covered Environment

ake Erie Portable Screeners r e c e n t l y introduced a propanepowered screener as a clean and cost-effective alternative to diesel power. The new Pitbull 2300 Propane Screening Plant is one of the first of its kind, delivering maximum efficiency and high outputs with a wide range of materials, including topsoil, mulch, gravel, stone and asphalt. The machine’s low-emission propane components provide an alternative to diesel equipment affected by the spike in prices caused by Tier 4 Final emission standards. The Pitbull 2300P is almost the same machine as the Pitbull 2300, aside from the power source. Featuring a Zenith 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder, 48-horsepower propane engine that could also be easily converted to natural gas, it can do any job its diesel-powered counterpart can. The propane also results in a cleaner engine that’s easier to maintain, allowing it to run longer, with fewer repairs. The durable and versatile Pitbull 2300 Propane can be configured to screen a wide range of materials, such as soil, mulch, asphalt, stone and gravel for use by landscapers, energy facilities, contractors and municipalities.

learSpan ™ Fabric Structures, a leading manufacturer of tension fabric buildings, recently revealed its n e w b u i l d i n g, t h e “Pavilion Building”. The new structure features no end walls or sidewalls, creating a covered, outdoor atmosphere that can be used for soil, mulch and composting. The Pavilion Building is covered by ClearSpan’s renowned 12.5 oz., 24 mil rip-stop polyethylene fabric. The covers allow natural light to filter through, ensuring that whatever activity takes place under the Pavilion is well lit during the daytime. The fabric covers are built for strength, are UV resistant and come in four different color options. The structure is built with a durable, USA-made frame that has been triple galvanized for corrosion resistance. The design of the truss frame promotes strength and a quick building timeline, and, when paired with the ClearSpan Helical Anchoring System, can be built with minimal foundation requirements. Pavilion Buildings can be constructed at 75 feet and 85 feet wide, and feature eaves that are 13 feet high.

For more information contact Lake Erie Portable Screeners at 888-448-2486 or info@pitbullscreeners.com or visit www.pitbullscreeners.com.

22 Soil & Mulch Producer News March /April 2016

For more information, please visit www.clearspan.com or call 866-643-1010.

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Get the right sized product, sort it out, and stack it higher with Peterson! Visit us a www.petersoncorp.com www.petersoncorp.com today and see why Peterson is the industry leader for disc and drum chippers, horizontal grinders, blower trucks, screens and stacking conveyors.

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March /April 2016 Soil & Mulch Producer News 23

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Inside This Issue Study Linking Water Contamination to Mulch, Compost Facilities in Long Island, NY, Challenged PAGE 1 Retaining Valuable Mulch in Beds – A New Product, Mulch Tech Shield, Addresses an Old Problem PAGE 4 Federal Government Seeks Increased Funding for Land Acquisitions PAGE 4 Scientists Question Government’s Climate Data Quality PAGE 8 North Carolina Utility Will be Powered by Hog and Poultry Manure PAGE 13 Scientists Test Pecan Wood Chips for Use as Commercial Growing Substrate PAGE 20

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