VT DEC Compost Center
Commercial Composting

Why Compost?

General

Composting Case Studies
Five small case studies of farms and other businesses which have integrated composting into their operations.
Florida Agricultural Information Retrieval System
Some articles with lots of good text on what to compost and why. Click on search and type "composting".
Large Scale Organic Materials Composting
A manual from the North Carolina State University. .
Effect on Weed Seed Viability in Windrow Techniques in the Western States


Can composting make me money?

Composting Dairy Manure for the Commercial Market
See the Economics of Composting for simple questions to consider.
Agricultural Composting: A Feasibility Study for New York Farms
A lengthy look at the feasibility of composting on farms in New York from Cornell.

Making Compost

Ingredients

Properties of Compost Ingredients from NRAES On-farm Composting Handbook
A table which shows the possible inputs into a compost system and the quality of each.
Cornell's Raw Materials
From the NRAES On-Farm Composting Handbook, a summary and table describing the different characteristics to be considered: C:N ratio, moisture content, and porosity.

Mixing ingredients

Mixing Techniques
A link to the On-Farm Handbook which describes how a batch-mixer works, as well as a few other machines used for mixing.
Alternate Composting Methods
Questions from a composting company that should be asked when comparing alternative methods.

Forming windrows

Cornell's Windrowing
A piece of the On-Farm Handbook touching on the methods of windrow composting with a small illustration. The entire article can be found through this website.

Turning piles

On-Farm Composting Handbook Table of Contents
Provides access to various subjects related to turning piles.

Static composting

Comparison of a Few Static Methods
Discusses in brief the key points to consider with a static technique.
Passively Aerated Composting
A look at an interesting method of passive aeration using perforated tubing underneath the windrow, eliminating the need for a machine to turn the pile.

Monitoring

Process Monitoring and Troubleshooting
According to this report, you will only need two basic tools: your nose and a thermometer!

Problems

Chapter 6 of the On-Farm Composting Handbook
Beginning with Safety and Health concerns, a complete look at problems confronting the on-farm composter.
Questions and Answers
A list of basic and advanced questions and answers concerning the use of compost in agriculture, touching on a number of common concerns.
Odor Control Problems
An article touching on the problem of odor control in larger composting operations.
Successful Odor Management

Topics

Composting Manure and Other Organic Residues
The University of Nebraska - Lincoln offers a short discourse with good information on manure production and ingredients characteristics.
Composting Poultry Mortalities
Methods for on-farm composting of dead poultry.
Dead Pig Composting
A good look at three methods that have worked.
Effect on Weed Seed Viability in Windrow Techniques in the Western States

Using Compost
See Compost Use Links below.
General

Florida Agricultural Information Retrieval System
Some articles with good text on what to compost, why, and what it can be used for. Click on search and type "composting".

Applying Compost

Compost Used for Plant and Disease Control
How the composting process is useful in controlling and eliminating soil-borne diseases in the end product.

Selling compost

Composting Dairy Manure for the Commercial Market
See the Economics of Composting for simple questions to consider.
Cornell Feasibility Study
A lengthy look at the feasibility of composting on farms in New York.

For more information, contact Anr.Compost@state.vt.us