Image: Judy Allan
Timely waste disposal and stockpile management are important components of whole-farm biosecurity.
Commercial mushroom production generates a lot of organic waste, and it often ends up in one big pile. But spent mushroom substrate (SMS), surplus Phase III compost and harvesting debris may look alike once mixed, yet they are not biologically equivalent, and each carries its own biosecurity risk profile.
This article from MushroomLink Magazine Issue #18 examines why a stockpile is more than a disposal issue, how its risk changes with storage time, and the key management principle for keeping waste from becoming a pathway back to your crop..