Abstract
The commercially cultured bait earthworm species are not, generally
speaking, the worm species found in your local garden soil. The
two most frequently raised species are the manure worm, Eisenia
foetida, and the red worm, Lumbricus rubellus, because
they are prolific and adaptable to a wide range of growing environments.
African nightcrawlers, Eudrillus eugeniae, are also farmed.
Common nightcrawlers, found in many areas of the United States,
are not appropriate for commercial production because they are slow
to grow and reproduce. However, it is possible to increase populations
in the soil by adding organic matter, and then to collect them from
their natural habitat.
This publication
contains references to enclosures that are available in hard
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Table of Contents
Raising worms
Earthworm husbandry, as with any livestock, requires management
to ensure adequate reproduction, growth, and health. I will provide
a brief review of some basic requirements here, but please refer
to the enclosed materials and to the listed resources for further
details about particular species and production systems.
Containers for raising earthworms vary depending upon the size
of the operation. They typically consist of a simple box made from
a material that will resist rotting. In some cases, shallow worm
boxes are stacked vertically in a frame resembling a chest of drawers.
The bedding material should retain moisture and resist compaction.
For this reason, soil is not recommended. A better choice is an
animal manure/bedding mixture. Because the heat from an active compost
pile can kill earthworms, the bedding material must be composted
beyond the heating stage before the worms are introduced to it.
The bedding should be kept crumbly moist, not soggy, with a temperature
suitable for the species of worm being produced. Optimal temperatures
range from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Earthworms are sensitive to fluctuations in acidity (pH). A pH
between 6.8 and 7.2 is best for commercial earthworm production.
Because most organic-matter bedding materials tend to become acidic
upon decomposition, pH should be tested periodically and lime added
when needed. Bedding should be kept loose for proper aeration and
replaced when necessary.
Manures from animals fed high-roughage diets, such as cattle or
horses, make excellent worm feed when added to the bedding. The
fiber in the manure also forms a mat that reduces evaporation from
the bedding material. Shredded cardboard, wood shavings, and other
organic matter with a high cellulose content can be used as feed;
but these low-nutrient feeds should be supplemented with a nitrogen
source. After the food has been spread on the surface, the bed should
be watered to maintain adequate moisture levels.
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Marketing
The two major markets for earthworms are for fish bait and as earthworm
breeding stock. In addition, there is an increasing opportunity
to market worms to the waste management industry, which uses worms
to process biodegradable garbage.
Earthworm wastes, or castings, are also sold as a soil amendment
or potting medium. Worm castings are rich in both available plant
nutrients and organic matter. Local gardening centers may be interested
in using or selling this resource, especially if the product is
consistent in quality and the supply is adequate. Attractive packaging
can also enhance sales. Landscapers, who are more likely to use
the material in bulk, provide another potential market. Another
market is to vermicomposters who use worms to process organic waste
into compost. Please see the ATTRA publication, Worms
for Composting (Vermicomposting) for more information.
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Economics
Enclosed are two publications that discuss the profitability of
worm production. The Pennsylvania State University publication entitled
Earthworm Production shows a return of $196 over variable
costs on a sale of worms from a 42-square-foot worm box at 4 pounds
of worms per square foot of production area per year. The net return,
including initial investment, was $132 per year. These figures are
based on a single production unit and are in 1994 dollars. Their
worm boxes were made at ground level from framing lumber or cinder
blocks.
According to the enclosed article on Weber's worm farm, sales reached
approximately 60,000 worms per week during their 4-month peak season
(April through July) in 1990. The farm required about 100 man hours
of labor per week during this time period. They sold their African
nightcrawlers at a price of $1.50 for 2 dozen in 1990. They also
sold bed-run African worms for $12 per pound.
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Worm information sources
If you have access to the Internet, there are many Web sites with
information about worm farming. Many resources for the producer,
including books, breeding stock, and equipment, can be located by
visiting the sites listed at the end of this letter. Each is linked
to other sites of interest. Under the Web site section below, I
list just a sampling of appropriate Web sites. Web addresses frequently
change, but a search of "worm farm" or "worm production"
will locate many sites.
Several books on worms, and on raising them as a business, are
listed below. Shields Publications (1) offers
many low-cost books on worm production, including the Earthworm
Buyer's Guide, which is updated every two years. They will
send a brochure if requested.
Peter Bogdanov's book Commercial Vermiculture: how to build
a thriving business in redworms provides a comprehensive guide
to getting started in the worm business. The book includes a checklist
of necessary beginning steps, necessary tools, and materials to
get the business underway. It covers the entire production process
in a step-by-step manner. Other salable products resulting from
worm production are also discussed. Two more recent resources from
the same publishing company are: In Their Own Words: Interviews
With Vermiculture Experts, edited by Peter Bogdanov, and Developing
A Successful Business Around Earthworms, a CD-ROM set including
the speech Bogdanov delivered at the Vermillennium meeting in September,
2000, plus 30 pages of text and data. These resources are available
from the publisher and at their Web site (2).
Worm Digest is a
quarterly newspaper about raising worms and worm composting (vermicomposting).
The goal of Worm Digest is to provide information and resources
on the use of worms for organic waste conversion and soil enrichment.
Worm Digest is also available on the web. The Web site contains
many resources including books and videos. Subscriptions to the
paper version of Worm Digest are $12 per year or $22 for
two years (3).
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References
- Shields
Publishing Co.
Box 669
Eagle River, WI 54521
Phone: 715-479-4810
Fax: 715-479-3905
- VermiCo
P.O. Box 1134
Merlin, OR 97532
Phone: 541-476-9626
Fax: 541-476-4555
- Worm
Digest
P.O. Box 544
Eugene, OR 97440-0544
Phone: 541-485-0456
E-mail: mail@wormdigest.org
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Enclosures
*Anon. 1994. Earthworm Production. Agricultural Alternatives. Penn
State Cooperative Extension Service. 4 p.
*Janetos, John. 1992. Raising nightcrawlers in your basement for
fun and profit. Countryside. November-December. p. 40-44.
*Leary, D. 1990. Weber's worm farm: A wiggly business in the Ozarks.
Missouri Farm. September-October. p. 18-21.
*Martin, J.P., J.H. Black, and R.M. Hawthorne. 1977. Earthworm
Biology and Production. University of California Cooperative Extension
Service, Berkeley, California. 10 p.
*Mason, William T. Jr. and John F. Dequine. 1991. Culture of West-African
nightcrawler and brandling worm. Aquaculture Magazine. July-August.
p. 39-45.
*Rule, Gwen. 1996. Live bait vending venture based on convenience.
Northwest Arkansas Business Times. July 28. p. E1, E3.
*The following enclosures are available in hard copy only.
Please call our toll free number to receive a copy - 1-800-346-9140
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Additional Resources
Books
Nancarrow, Loren and Janet H. Taylor. 1998. The Worm Book. Tenspeed
Press. 160 p.
Available for $10.95 through your local bookstore.
Appelhof, Mary. 1997. Worms Eat My Garbage, Second Edition. Flower
Press, Kalamazoo, MI. 162 p.
Available for $12.95 from your local bookstore.
Gaddie, Ronald E. and Donald E. Douglas. 1976. Earthworms for Ecology
and Profit, 192 p.
Available for $14.95 through your local bookstore.
Dembroff, Glenn. Date Unknown. Exploring Profits in Worm Farming
Available for $7 + $1 shipping from:
www.happydranch.com/books/epiwf.php3
Shields, Earl B. 1999. Raising Earthworms for Profit. Shields Publications
A limited number of copies available for $10 from:
www.amazon.com
Morgan, Charlie. 1978. Earthworm Selling and Shipping Guide.
A few copies available for $7 from:
www.amazon.com
Myers, Ruth. 1969. The ABC's of the Earthworm Business. Out of
print.
A few copies available for $8 from
www.amazon.com
Web sites
Worm Digest, a master
Web site containing links to dozens of worm Web sites on production,
bins, books, vermicomposting, back issues of Worm Digest Newsletter,
and worm growers already in the business.
www.magicworms.com/catalog.htm
Sells worms, worm farming equipment, books and has much on-line
information on getting starting on worm farming and vermicomposting.
Baitworm Production
By Alice Beetz
NCAT Agriculture Specialist
Cole Loeffler, HTML Production
CT 101
Slot 27
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