Use of Cotton Gin Byproducts in California
From: Rick Melnicoe
To: Bernard Schneider
Subject: FW: Some Questions from EPA on Cotton Gin Byproducts
Date: Monday, February 26, 2007
Bernie,
Here is what I have so far. If I get more information, I will send it along.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: Earl P. Williams
Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 7:04 PM
To: Rick Melnicoe
Cc: Roger Isom; Casey Creamer
Subject: Re: Some Questions from EPA on Cotton Gin Byproducts
Rick,
We do not recommend the feeding of gin trash and as a matter of fact
all gin trash leaving a ginning facility should be preceeded by a
form signed by the user that acknowledges it should not be used as
feed. The most common use today is for bedding in dairy corrals.
I believe there is a regulation against feeding this product without
being tested and being cleared for acceptable pesticide residue
levels. Composting was once thought to be the future but has fallen
out of favor with most. Use in bio-mass plants has come and gone
and today there are inquiries beginning for use as a feedstock in
alternative fuel production. Also has been used or at least experimented
with as a base in building materials and is being tested today in
some areas in other states as a mulch and erosion prevention product
hydro applied to hillsides and overpass construction.
Seldom if ever applied back to fields today because of weed and disease
spreading problems as well as the handling logistics. As for the volumnes
produced anually, we're currently producing 1mil to 1.5mil bales of
cotton in the state each year and the gin trash produced will range
between 100 to 150 lbs per bale of cotton ginned. I'm copying Roger
Isom on this and he may have other ideas to add since he's been directly
involved in many of the uses mentioned here.
Thanks and hope this helps.
Earl
Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Melnicoe
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:39:47
To:<earl@ccgga.org>
Subject: Some Questions from EPA on Cotton Gin Byproducts
Hi Earl,
It has been awhile since we talked.
I received some questions from the team at the USEPA that is working
on the oilseed crop grouping revisions. They had some specific
questions about uses of cotton gin trash. I was hoping you or
someone else in your organization might help me answer the following
questions.
Are cotton gin byproducts fed to cattle on cow-calf farms, for back
grounding operations, or growing or finishing beef feedlots? If
yes to any, how often, at what ration rate, and to local livestock
only or shipped to other sites in CA or adjacent states.
If allowed, then to what types of livestock (growing or finishing beef,
lactating or non-lactating dairy cows, frequency, maximum % in daily
ration, availability (used for local livestock only or shipped to other
locations within CA or adjacent states). If restricted, is there
a law or regulation established?
Also, is the gin trash returned to the field, other ways of disposal
within CA, and volume produced per year from cotton harvesting in CA?
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
Regards,
Rick
******************************************
Rick Melnicoe
Director, Western IPM Center and
University of California Pesticide Coordinator
Department of Environmental Toxicology
One Shields Avenue
4249 Meyer Hall (use only for FedEx deliveries)
University of California
Davis, CA 95616
Phone: 530-754-8378
Fax: 530-754-8379
www.wripmc.org
