Émilie Mainville and Bruno Lemieux, owners of Ferme Abitibienne.Photos: Émilie Parent-Bouchard
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PALMAROLLE – Lamb producers in Abitibi-Ouest have found an outlet for sheep shearing residue.During this period of garden preparation, Ferme Abitibienne offers sheep wool granules, a fertilizer solution that is ecological and rich in nitrogen.
The idea of throwing wool never appealed to Bruno Lemieux.And selling it is not profitable, argues the co-owner of Ferme Abitibienne.
The last time we sold wool, we received more invoices for transport than the wool check.
When his cousin came to him with the idea that wool, rich in nitrogen and potassium, could be transformed into pellets, the farmer went into research mode.“There have been research projects in Australia.They have large volumes, millions of tonnes of wool.We are talking about six tonnes that I currently have in inventory, or two to three tonnes per year,” he compares, specifying that he is mainly interested in short circuit supply.
After acquiring a plastic crusher and a wood pelletizer, he carried out a few tests and had the pellets analyzed.The percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were evaluated at 10-0-5 respectively.
The advantage of this new product lies, among other things, in the fact that 50% of the nitrogen is released during application and the rest degrades slowly.And if there are any leftovers, they can be used for house plants, suggests Émilie Mainville.“Nitrogen, the 10 of the fertilizer, is for the greenery of the plant.So anything green can benefit.In my opinion, at the end of the season, we will be able to say that with two kilos, someone fertilizes their greenhouse and their garden and that they perhaps have some left for their indoor plants,” says the producer.
Plastic Recycle Machine The price set by the couple for a two-kilo bag is $35.For the moment, marketing is done on the farm as well as in the garden center in the neighboring municipality of Gallichan.Other points of sale could soon be added.