Sustainability
Build healthier soil while reducing reliance on costly purchased inputs.
As fertilizer prices and operating costs climb, composting offers farmers a way to turn organic waste into a useful soil amendment and rely less on purchased inputs.
Composting breaks down plant waste, manure, and food scraps into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can improve soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient content.
Using compost can reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers while returning nutrients to the soil. It also makes farm organic waste a resource instead of something to discard.
Start with clean organic materials such as manure, grass clippings, food scraps, dry leaves, straw, and wood chips. Keep plastics and chemically contaminated items out of the pile.
Combine nitrogen-rich greens, such as fresh grass and manure, with carbon-rich browns, such as dry leaves and straw. A balanced mix helps materials decompose effectively.
Choose a composting method that fits your farm’s size, labor, equipment, and space. Small farms may use vermicomposting or static piles; larger operations can use windrows.
Compost adds organic matter that improves soil texture, porosity, and water-holding capacity. It supports root growth, nutrient uptake, and beneficial microbes that aid nutrient cycling.
Recycling on-farm organic waste into compost can reduce purchases of fertilizers and soil amendments. Farmers report fertilizer cost savings of 20–50% when using high-quality compost regularly.
Balanced materials, aeration, and controlled moisture help prevent odors and pests. Covering piles with straw or tarps can also reduce odor impacts and keep composting neighbor-friendly.
Active composting typically takes 4 to 8 weeks, followed by several more weeks of curing. Use mature compost to support soil health and make farm waste work harder.
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