Composting Facility
On properties where animal manure will be used to fertilize pastures or cropland as part of a comprehensive nutrient management plan, composting facilities are often used to turn the raw manure into a valuable soil amendment. In addition to producing a valuable commodity, composting manure will reduce the risk of spread of disease and the presence of flies and scavenging animals.
Care must be taken when siting the composting facility so that neighboring areas are minimally affected by odors and visual nuisances. Vegetative screens and landscaping can help to minimize the negative effects of installing the structure. The facility can be roofed or unroofed, but must be large enough to allow for several piles, or windrows, of manure to sit while aging during the composting process. The length of time and number of turns that a pile makes depend largely on individual management practices. Once the process is complete, the compost is ready to be spread on fields.
