As large livestock operations grow manure is becoming an increasingly difficult problem for operators to manage. In the early nineties before I left the fertilizer business I encouraged several large dairy farms in the area to try composting. They had pretty good luck with it and no longer had to spread manure on frozen ground in the winter where it is prone to run off in the Spring.
One other advantage is they could skip the fields by the barn where nutrients were sky high and reach farms further away easily without hauling so much water. I suggested they even try selling some of their compost to organic farmers. They laughed at me and thought the idea was ridiculous. Soon after a quite large egg operation started doing just that. In fact they pellitized some of it offering it in bags as well as bulk. It became such a large part of their farm they hired a full time manager and staff. One thing about chicken manure is that its high in nitrogen so for crops like corn that require it there are few other options.
As large livestock operations grow manure is becoming an increasingly difficult problem for operators to manage. In the early nineties before I left the fertilizer business I encouraged several large dairy farms in the area to try composting. They had pretty good luck with it and no longer had to spread manure on frozen ground in the winter where it is prone to run off in the Spring.
One other advantage is they could skip the fields by the barn where nutrients were sky high and reach farms further away easily without hauling so much water. I suggested they even try selling some of their compost to organic farmers. They laughed at me and thought the idea was ridiculous. Soon after a quite large egg operation started doing just that. In fact they pellitized some of it offering it in bags as well as bulk. It became such a large part of their farm they hired a full time manager and staff. One thing about chicken manure is that its high in nitrogen so for crops like corn that require it there are few other options.