Composting for the Garden State

New Jersey NRCS has awarded a $75,000 Conservation Innovation Grant to Ag-Choice, LLC. The grant was for Ag Choice’s ability to demonstrate the economic feasibility and environmental benefits of a regional composting facility for horse stable waste.  Composting more than 10,000 cubic yards of organic materials per year, their operation provides a valuable service for small-scale, concentrated animal operations that don't have a means of properly managing their agricultural waste.  Ag-Choice uses an aerobic fleece-covered windrow composting process that creates very high quality compost.  They have conducted several field tours to educate regulatory officials and area farmers about the composting process and its benefits.

A recent article, Pragmatic Farm Composters Forge New Path to Resource Recovery, (BioCycle November 2007, Vol. 48, No. 11, p. 36) explains in detail how this two year-old enterprise has precipitated important dialogue among State agencies about managing New Jersey’s growing equine industry.

Your contact is Barbara L. Phillips NRCS public affairs specialist at 732-537-6044.