Compost is receiving increased attention as an alternative manure management practice due to increased pressures from society to reduce the impact on the environment. The producer will see alternative benefits to the reduction in volume of manure due to composting. Land base required to apply manure compost may stay the same but the producer can economically haul compost further than manure.

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Composting is the biological decomposition and stabilization of organic material. The process produces heat that, in turn, produces a final product that is stable, free of pathogens and viable plant seeds, and can be beneficially applied to the land. As the product stabilizes, odours are reduced and pathogens eliminated. When composting high moisture materials, bulking materials are necessary for reducing moisture content and maintaining the integrity of the pile. Ideally, composting will enhance the usefulness of organic by-products as fertilizers, privately and commercially.
 

Benefits

• Reduces mass and volume
  - lower hauling costs

• Reduces odour

• Pathogens are destroyed

• Kills weed seeds

• Improves transportability

• Soil conditioner 

• Improves nutrient qualities
  - the nutrients from compost are released slowly and steadily

• Decreases pollutants
  - stabilizes the volatile nitrogen into large protein particles, reducing losses

• Land application when convenient

• Saleable product

• Increases water retention of soil

Compost Packages