Composting is nature’s way of recycling and converting all organic waste into a form where it can be readily used by plants for growth and nourishment.

A few important reasons to composts are listed below;

• Composting manure will protect precious and sensitive water supplies from water soluble nitrates (in raw manure) which can travel across or down into the ground affecting your water supply. Only 1% of the Earths’ water is drinkable. Protect it!
• Proper composting will kill and control mosquito and fly larvae which can be a real nuisance and carriers of disease. Active compost will reach 150-165F which kills the larvae (and weed seeds).
• Composting kills and eliminates weed seeds from your fields, landscape and gardens.
• A well maintained compost pile will beak down very quickly, in 60-90 days. If done in a controlled manner, it deters rodents and other small creatures from nesting or dwelling in your unmanaged piles.
• Compost is natures’ perfect plant food. Regular use of compost dramatically increases soil health, makes clay soil loosen up improving drainage and conversely, makes sandy soil hold moisture and nutrient better.
• If you cultivate hay or apply compost around your property, you reduce or eliminate the need for chemicals which saves you money and keeps your property healthier.
• Good aerated compost management generates virtually no offensive odors.

Making compost is a very rewarding process. All you need is the right amount of carbon based material (leaves, old hay, straw, wood shavings) and a small amount of nitrogen based material; animal manure, urine soaked bedding, green grass clippings, or food waste.

When mixed and set in the proper aerated environment with an average moisture level of 65-70% (damp, but not soaked), naturally occurring microbes kick into gear and begin to attach the material converting it back into life sustaining humus. The heat of a pile is generated by these microbes working to recycle and convert these raw materials. Almost everyone has seen their piles get hot, but once the air is used up and the moisture level drops, that first flush of heat slows to a crawl and the material sits there. Slowly decomposing.

Many folks spread fresh manure directly to the field thinking they are doing the proper thing. In many cases you are actually decreasing soil fertility if you have a high percentage of shavings or straw. Let me explain why.

Microbes in your soil need energy to attack and break down the lignin and carbon of the shavings or straw. There are only two places for the microbes to get this energy;

The stored energy in your soil, or the energy from the fresh urine or manure. But if these get rained on, or heavily snowed upon, the nitrogen leaches out very rapidly. Therefore adding fresh manure directly to fields can in many cases, work against you.

Spreading compost is best. You are providing a stabilized, nutritious, plant usable material that plants benefit from immediately. There is a 40% volume shrinkage from raw manure to finished compost. This means 40% less fuel, labor or time when taking it to the field! Composting does all sorts of great things for your farm, animals and the environment. Compost is Health Food for Plants and the Environment!

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