Is There Any Evidence Of Aged Manure Having Less Pathogens

Question From: Rancho Cordova, California, United States
Q: Hi Nancy, Your site identifies "aged manure" as being over 1 year old. Can you point me to any scientific literature that studies the effects of time on cattle manure? (One year or more?) It seems to me that aging alone can eliminate pathogens (e.g. salmonella and E Coli) all together, but I'm having difficulty finding a research paper to substantiate that. Thanks. I enjoyed reading your site. -Jim

A: Unfortunately I know of no research regarding that subject. The compost industry is unregulated and research costs money. You might want to try Googling the U.S. Compost Council and the Compost Council of Canada for more information. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy