Milorganite WORKS!

[QuakrTrakr]

I have a few small plots that are quit a ways away from any crop fields and the deer hammer it so hard, whatever I try to grow, they overgraze it. I plan on putting in another plot or two next year (time allowing), but I decided to try the Miorganite trick. It actually works. I put a bag on each plot and I only have 6 pictures of deer in the 10 days it's been down. And those deer we're having none of it. It wears off after the smell dies down in 3 or 4 weeks. I actually found a study on it. http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/C889-1.htm

[oldguy]

Milorganite WORKS!

Sure does. Best temporary deterrent currently available, IMHO.

[Florence 40]

I personally would not use milorganite on a food plot. It contains heavy metals and is not to be used to grow anything to be eaten.

[QuakrTrakr]

I personally would not use milorganite on a food plot. It contains heavy metals and is not to be used to grow anything to be eaten.

I don't have access to a bag right now to confirm. And what heavy metals? Are they non-toxic or toxic. Please confirm.

[oldguy]

I personally would not use milorganite on a food plot. It contains heavy metals and is not to be used to grow anything to be eaten.

I think you may be looking at old information. I know that was supposedly an issue twenty odd years ago, but not today. Certainly nothing considered toxic or injurious.

Attached is something I pasted from the company site, but you can google info on this product from just about every home gardening site out there.

I heard that Milorganite contains heavy metals. Is that true?

Yes, that is true. All fertilizers, both organic and synthetic, contain some heavy metals. In fact, plants need some heavy metals, such as zinc and copper and molybdenum, for normal, healthy growth. Milorganite meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "Exceptional Quality" criteria, which establishes the strictest concentration limits in the fertilizer industry for heavy metals. Many other common fertilizer products exceed the limits for metal concentrations established by the EPA "Exceptional Quality" standards. Milorganite, though, can be used with confidence for all your fertilizing needs, including use on all types of grass, trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens.

[chevyjam2001]

I have used it for the past 3 years to protect soys when they are young and this year I used it to keep deer off of my sugar beets.

[sagittarius]

Milorganite is made from the sewage waste of Milwaukee County, WI. Thats the human waste from about 800,000 people, businesses, industries, and every drain cleaner, solvent, and chemical they dump down the drain. It's nutrient/fertilizer value is a very low "6-2-0".

From the MSDS ...
Trace metals and volatile organics can be detected in quanities less than 1.0%, most less than 0.1%. These components and pathogenic agents are of a low quanity to allow this product to meet US EPA 40CFR Part 503 Class A Exceptional Quality biosolid requirements.

(California Only-Proposition 65 Warning)
This product contains detectable quanities of chemicals known cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. This notice in no way implies that we have any evidence or experience to indicate that any genuine hazard of cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm results from the normal, proper handling described on our labels and related literature.


http://www.milorganite.com/about/material_safety_data_sheet.cfm

[QuakrTrakr]

Milorganite is made from the sewage waste of Milwaukee County, WI. Thats the human waste from about 800,000 people, businesses, industries, and every drain cleaner, solvent, and chemical they dump down the drain. It's nutrient/fertilizer value is a very low "6-2-0".

From the MSDS ...

http://www.milorganite.com/about/material_safety_data_sheet.cfm

But it keeps deer away. The nutrient content, what little it is, is just a bonus.

[gunfun13]

At what rate do you apply the milorganite?

[QuakrTrakr]

At what rate do you apply the milorganite?

I just put a bag per 1/2 acre or so just keep the deer away. For real fertilizer I use 12-12-12 or something else.

[oldguy]

But it keeps deer away. The nutrient content, what little it is, is just a bonus.

Exactly. There is very little nutrient benefit from Milorganite. It was originally developed to find a way to get rid of Milwaukee's waste treatment sludge......and yes, I agree, that part is a bit unsettling.

But, if you can get past that, Milorganite is a great way to amend soils relatively inexpensively, and it will repel deer for several weeks in most cases.


At what rate do you apply the milorganite?

If there's a recommended rate for the deer deterrent effect, I've never seen it printed. We typically use 40lbs on a 1/2 acre plot. You may have to experiment with application rates, based on deer density, attractiveness of the plot, etc. The goal of course being that your plot survives browsing pressure and is attractive when you want it to be.

FYI, I've yet to see Milorganite completely eliminate deer from an area. It slows then down, but has never caused completely caused them to avoid a plot of ours.

[doublell]

don't know if it is still the case but golf courses used to apply it liberally expecially in the fall. I can still remember it's unique aroma from my caddying days. I have used it for years when planting bushes, shrubs, established perenials etc. since it does not burn . Never knew about deer avoiding it however. Since I have an ongoing battle with deer in my yard I picked up a couple of bags yesterday to put out small piles on occasion in strategic places. Will see it works.

[chevyjam2001]

A study by the QDMA for Quality Whitetails magazine found the best detterent rate at 100#-150# per acre. I have had pretty good luck with rates as low as 50#/ac.