Is it manure plus bedding, or mostly manure? Was it mixed with anything along the way? What do you intend to do with it -- compost it, directly till it into your garden soil, something else? If tilling or adding it directly, how soon do you plan to plant ?

Liming is done to control potential pathogens by raising the pH. For that to be effective you really need to know the pH is raised to 12 or greater, and then you need to let it sit at the raised pH for a while. If you're going to compost it, then no - liming would be counter productive. It already has ~ 180 days of age, so most of the concern has probably already taken care of itself, but that's nothing more than a guess.

It's manure plus bedding I guess because I could see a lot of straw mixed in. I guess I will compost it then. Better safe than sorry! I was going to put directly onto my beds but maybe that's not such a good idea. I don't want to burn my plants. I would be using it for perennials, roses, clematis, veggies too. Everything has already been planted at least a couple years ago except the veggies of course. :)

At that age, if it were me, I would have no trouble using it directly on the perennials etc., just not the veggies. For the veggies I would compost it, even at 6 months of age. Still, it's a great score.

I would be afraid to add lime if your soil PH is high to begin with. If it's pretty low I would not worry.

I would compost it.

My buddy works on a horse farm, and I guess urban organics(makers of sweet peet,etc), go over there and pick up large amounts of manure... I could get as much as I desire... I just picked up a 7'x18 trailer filled one and a half foot high with compost, my backs still killing! But it's feel much better when you know it's free!

Joe

Wooo buddy, just noticed your in NE Ohio as well! It truly is a small world! We are probably digging out the same manure on the same farm! You could be my neighbor for all I know, I was wondering what smelled like manure! Feel free to bring me a load of manure!! In return,I'll show you the best foraging spots in our location! That would be funny.. Who are you kidding, I'm never telling anyone my forage spots, that like me showing you my fishing holes,. Or my deer stands!