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Compost on a larger scale

Organic farmers are finding ways to incorporate compost on a larger scale.

Clifford Johnson of Paynesville in central Minnesota says he builds a composting mixture that is placed in elongated piles, or windrows, that he aerates mechanically with a turner.

“We build a lot of our own products to do what we need to do, and we’re trying to figure out what works for a situation and learn as we go. And we’re always trying to make it simpler and adapt to that.”

He tells Brownfield his eventual goal is to have the compost built in the field because hauling it can be harmful to beneficial microbes.

Southeast Minnesota organic dairy farmer Dale Pangrac says he’s having success spreading compost on his crops.

“We’ve made compost extract (and) compost tea. We put the extract on with the planter right on the seeds.”

He says the extract process involves aerating compost in water for a short time to extract the microorganisms and apply right away.  Compost tea is similar except microbial food like oats or kelp is added, and the aeration period is one to two days.

Pangrac and Johnson both spoke at the Land Stewardship Project’s Composting for Soil Microbiology Field Day on Pangrac’s farm near Lewiston Thursday.

Clifford Johnson interview:

Dale Pangrac interview: