Keep compost piles moist

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Question: I live near an old dairy farm. How can I make the best use of old, dried cow manure?

Ideally, you should compost this manure. Manure in our climate does not readily decompose due to our low rainfall and humidity. In wetter climates, manures compost over time. Using uncomposted manure can pose a health concern if you are growing vegetables, particularly leafy vegetables. Keep it out of direct contact with human food as much as possible.

Good composting methods kill the vast majority of the microorganisms that cause health concerns. It also helps to make the nutrients from the manure and other compost additives more available to the plant and it enriches the soil.

Good composting methods will take many months to finish manures completely. Compost piles in our climate should be kept out of the wind and direct sunlight. Keep them moist, but not wet, turned frequently to speed up the process, which also causes the composting process to work through the entire compost pile.

For more information on composting, try this Web site: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/GARDEN/07212.html.

Bob Morris is an associate professor with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.