Agricultural Composting & Water Quality

This project is funded from 2011-2012 by WSARE grant OW10-329: "Protecting Water Quality and Promoting Economic Efficiency at Agricultural Composting Facilities". Our goal is to assist farmers in meeting new state composting regulations as implemented by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

The project includes collaborating farmers who are experienced agricultural composters, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and three composting consultants: Jeff Gage (Compost Design Services), Peter Moon (O₂ Compost) and Will Gehr (S&H Landscape Supply & Recycling).

During the project we will have farmer focus sessions, a tour of composting facilities and individual visits to agricultural composting facilities. In partnership with consultants and regulators we will conduct a literature review and identify cost-effective Good Agricultural Practices for protecting water quality at agricultural composting facilities and will write a GAP Manual for Agricultural Composting that address water quality issues.