Straw from Manitoba
Wheat straw is transported in containers by rail from distant Manitoba, in central Canada. Trailers carry the straw for the final part of the journey. Two discs at the end of the straw line scatter the straw to eliminate lumps and clusters. At the moment, OMF works with a schedule of four pre-wet days for straw before poultry manure is added; two days in the raw material hall and two days in a bunker. The subsequent mixing process usually takes four hours per batch. The compost is then fermented for nine days in the bunkers before being filled into the tunnels. Another effective detail is that other activities in the process can be completed while the tunnels are being filled. For example, compost can be transported from one bunker to another as another compost
hopper is located at the end of the hall. This hopper holds compost from a bunker that is ready to be used to fill the tunnels.
A new era
The investment in a new, indoor composting facility by OMF heralds a new era for mushroom growing in Ontario. OMF demonstrates to local residents daily though monitoring, and with regular air quality measurements performed by the provincial authorities, that compost for mushroom growing can be produced without causing odour nuisance.
In addition, the implemented changes have drastically improved working conditions and reduced holds up in the process as the harsh weather conditions no longer play such an influential role.
The investments in the indoor faci-
lity have improved the composting process and the working conditi- ons at OMF.
The immense air handling facility with ammonia washers.
The biofilter outside.
MUSHROOM BUSINESS 31
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