Case Study :

The Dynamics of an Organic Compost Operation

Presented by: L. G. (Larry) Conrad, P.Eng.

Chair, The Compost Council of Canada

INNOVATIVE COMPOSTERS

IMPRESSIVE BUSINESS PLAN

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL

UNIQUE SITUATION

Javan Martin - Age 27

Young Professional

HM and Sons Farms ◦ Family farm operation

Vanica Ltd ◦ Compost producer and marketing company

Ploughman’s Choice ◦ The brand name

Who is HM and Sons Farms?

◦ Family farm operating a beef feedlot on 100 acres of owned land and 100 acres of rented land.

◦ Continuous cropping of corn on 130 acres and beans on 30 acres.

◦ 2,400 finished cattle a year in indoor loose housing.

Continuous corn cropping robs the soils of organic matter and nutrients.

Practices minimum tillage and winter cover crops of winter rye and oats.

They are able to maintain 7 to 8 percent organic matter in their soils because of the manure produced by the cattle.

From one barn there is approximately 8,000 tonnes/year produced.

What happens to this manure? ◦ Between 20 - 30 % of manure used on the farm.

◦ 30 tonnes per acre applied to the owned lands.

◦ Remaining 70-80 % sold to a manure broker.

A second barn doubled the production of manure to 15,000 tonnes/year

Lead to issues with the manure broker. ◦ Inconsistent Service i.e. Manure not removed when

the farm needed it moved.

◦ Lack of storage space for the manure

Attempted to market the manure themselves ◦ High trucking costs.

◦ Nutrient Management Act concerns.

The organic farmers purchasing the manure asked if it could be composted first.

They did not like the weed seeds that were in the manure.

Was created as a separate business entity in order to purchase the manure and then produce the compost.

Trial By Fire - Javan had no previous experience in composting.

He started an on farm open air windrow system.

Could only use products from feedlot operations and could not import any additives or other organic feedstock.

Allows unrestricted use of the compost by organic farmers.

Purchased a Vermeer Windrow Turner to turn the windrows.

Windrows were 6 feet by 12 feet.

They started with 4 windrows with 200 tonnes in each.

The compost was too wet.

Difficult to control the composting process.

Relied on the use of the turner to dry, aerate and maintain correct temperatures.

Composting on the natural soils was tough.

All compost was used on the farm.

Processed more manure in 12 windrows.

Same issues

observed as first year i.e. Wet conditions and a rainy summer compounded problems.

Bedding practices changed. ◦ Increased the use of straw.

◦ Decreased the use of sawdust.

Observations: ◦ C:N ratio of the manure approached 25:1

◦ Dryer manure

◦ Improved animal health

◦ Decreasing the need for medication.

◦ Increased rate of gain of the livestock

◦ Improved the financial returns

Added a fabric buildings to protect the compost process from elements. Allowed for a more controlled process.

All manure is now composted.

All compost produced is sold under the brand name Ploughman’s Choice or used on farm.

No manure is applied to the land.

The yield is consistent with the use of compost and the organic matter still remain in the 7 -8% range.

Added a new windrow turner for use in the fabric building.

Javan is working to reduce the odours from the composting process.

Why is this important?

◦ Farmers have the right to farm and the on farm composting process is allowed.

◦ Being a Good Neighbour is important.

◦ Reducing odours may increase the value of the nutrients in the compost bringing an Economic Gain.

Use of a Zeolite in the Compost windrows In limited use it has been visually observed to

keep the compost dryer and showing more fungal activity.

In winter operations, the dryer material is easier to process.

At the end it is around 40-45% moisture content.

More importantly it allowed for a halving of the number of turns made by the windrow turner –increased the Economics!

Canadian Zeolite Corp is an environmentally friendly Green Tech business

Incorporating a feed additive, supplied by MTS Environmental, to one barn

Normal feed in the control barn.

It has been visually observed to reduce odours in the test barn.

Tests on the compost will be completed in the spring to determine any impacts to nutrient levels.

A 39% reduction in airborne ammonia, measured approximately 12” off the floor as compared to the control barn