How to find a miscanthus supplier?

Snowy Celandine

Snowy Celandine

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I've decided to try miscanthus bedding and I know that it is grown here in Lincs but most of it seems to go for bio fuel so I've not found any bedding suppliers. Where does everyone else get it from? Do you use proprietary brands? I just want a smallish quantity to try so it would be good to get it locally.
 
Thanks both :) I've Googled it using so many different permutations of words but all I ever come up with in this area is miscanthus for bio-fuel which isn't a lot of good to me :( I'll check out both of your suggestions and see if anyone stocks it locally, thanks.
 
No help for a supplier as you are too far away but wanted to say I like it very much as bedding. Stays clean and isn't too dusty and from a gardeners perspective it rots down much better than shavings.
 
millikins said:
No help for a supplier as you are too far away but wanted to say I like it very much as bedding. Stays clean and isn't too dusty and from a gardeners perspective it rots down much better than shavings.
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Thanks millikins :) That's what I'm hoping. I will try it on rubber first and then, if they get on ok and I like it, I will deep litter over winter and, hopefully, be able to compost it eventually so that I can use it myself on the garden as I can never get enough fertilizer/soil improver.
 
I'm not sure why more people aren't stocking it around me but there's a distinct lack of outlets selling it. I know some farmers are growing it but I think they must be sending it all off for pelleted fuel. Some of it goes to the power stations from what I can gather.
 
Snowy Celandine said:
I'm not sure why more people aren't stocking it around me but there's a distinct lack of outlets selling it. I know some farmers are growing it but I think they must be sending it all off for pelleted fuel. Some of it goes to the power stations from what I can gather.
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My local independent feed supplier went to a place nearby where they grow vast acres of the stuff. He was asking if they would supply but they were very dismissive. Now though I notice they are listing poultry bedding among their products so the competition must have forced them to diversify and install a straw chopping machine. But I suspect they are selling that by the lorry load as well, bagging it is a whole other operation. Just maybe watch this space?
 
Jill, I was actually going to contact the local farmers buying co-op tomorrow and ask if they knew if any of their clients sold miscanthus for horse bedding. Might plant the seed of an idea if nothing else? It would be great to be able to get it delivered from a local grower just like hay.

Not heard of that one Myloubylou but thanks for the heads up :)
 
Snowy Celandine said:
Jill, I was actually going to contact the local farmers buying co-op tomorrow and ask if they knew if any of their clients sold miscanthus for horse bedding. Might plant the seed of an idea if nothing else? It would be great to be able to get it delivered from a local grower just like hay.
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I'm not sure if it works well as long straw, every time I have had any it has been chopped. Unless you know a local farmer with a straw chopper - they chop for cattle in sheds. Actually we have a local firm who bale and sell chopped rape straw, I am wondering if he would get in on the miscanthus act. Thanks for the idea lol
 
JillA said:
I'm not sure if it works well as long straw, every time I have had any it has been chopped. Unless you know a local farmer with a straw chopper - they chop for cattle in sheds. Actually we have a local firm who bale and sell chopped rape straw, I am wondering if he would get in on the miscanthus act. Thanks for the idea lol
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I love next to a farmyard and there's definitely a straw chopper in there as they've given me chopped wheat straw when I had to keep the poultry housed :) The farm manager came for dinner last week as I like to keep him on-side :p
 
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