It all starts with the cows and their manure...

• Our cow manure is collected from the cow barns and moved to our on-site indoor composting facility.
• In this facility, the manure is pumped through a series of two separation units, which remove the solids.
• Then the solids are conveyed to a slotted floor forming piles where blowers force air into the piles of solids. By forcing air through the piles we incorporate oxygen into them which helps to create a thermophilic process and keeps the piles from going anaerobic.
• We monitor the temperatures closely to make sure that the temperatures reach between 132 and 150 F for at least 21 days. At these temperatures all weed seeds and harmful pathogens are killed and some of the moisture is removed.
• After 4 to 6 weeks the compost piles are moved outside into windrows. The windrows are turned weekly to help the curing process.
• After 3 to 4 more months the compost has become mature. The moisture, odor and harmful weeds seeds have all been reduced and the manure solids are ready to be used as composting mulch.