VISIT A LOCAL

COMPOSTING PROJECT

Animal Waste Composting Project

A cooperative effort between the Gallatin Conservation District and Earth Systems

Funding: This project was funded by EPA's "319 Grant" program. Dollars are made available to organizations by the EPA under the authority of the federal Clean Water Act. Section 319 of the act provides funding for states to manage their non-point source pollution (NPS) programs and to support watershed projects. For more information about 319 Grants, visit their web site at www.epa.gov/owow/nps/funding.html or contact the Conservation District

Project Description: The lower Gallatin River watershed is on the 303(d) list of impaired waters and has the highest concentration of dairy farms in the State of Montana. The Gallatin Valley is also one of the fastest growing areas in the State. A pro-active approach to manure management will help local producers move toward compliance with State and Federal regulations regarding animal feeding operations (CAFOs or AFOs), TMDLs, and meet the State's NPS reduction goals. At the same time, this operation will turn a potential environmental liability into an economic benefit that can supplement producer income. Earth Systems, a small private composting and soil manufacturing business located in Bozeman, Montana, will work with local producers to produce, market and sell a minimum 4,000 cubic yards of high quality compost. A percentage of all profits will be returned to local producers as an incentive to use composting as a manure management tool and to insure continued participation.

What is Compost? Organic waste products, called "feedstocks", are characterized chemically and physically and mixed in proper proportions under optimal moisture, aeration and chemical conditions to produce compost. A strict monitoring and quality assurance program insure a high quality finished product which can be marketed and sold as a soil amendment, organic fertilizer or mulch for a variety of applications. Compost application increases organic matter, improves soil structure, increases water holding capacity, reduces fertilizer requirements, and reduces soil erosion. Activities that benefit from incorporation of compost include:

Agriculture

Turf grass production
Mine reclamation

Landscaping
Resource restoration

Highway construction
Nurseries Erosion Control
Golf course turf management

Developments/Parks

Manure is brought in daily from area dairies. This photo shows a manure spreader forming a 200 foot long, 8 foot wide and 5 foot high windrow.

New manure drains before it is turned.

Temperatures are carefully monitored to maintain a temperature of 130-140*F. This ensures that pathogens, weed seeds and fly larvae are destroyed.

The compost turner moves material from the inside out. Turning the compost pile not only releases water, heat and CO2 to the atmosphere, but it also restores the pore space so oxygen can move through the pile more easily.

Compost Row 5(A)

Compost rows curing