Composting on the Farm—Turning Waste into Soil Gold

Composting is one of the most powerful yet underrated tools available to farmers and homesteaders. It transforms manure, crop residue, hay scraps, and kitchen waste into rich, living soil that feeds the next generation of growth. And best of all? It’s practically free.

Whether you're baling hay or collecting chicken manure, composting gives you the ability to reduce waste, regenerate soil, and build fertility on your own terms.

What Is Composting?

Composting is the controlled breakdown of organic materials—such as plant matter and manure—into a nutrient-rich, soil-like substance known as humus. It’s driven by bacteria, fungi, insects, and time.

At its simplest, composting involves:

• Roughly 50% Carbon-rich "browns": straw, hay, leaves, small sticks, sawdust

• Roughly 50% Nitrogen-rich "greens": manure, kitchen scraps, grass clippings, coffee grounds

• Air and moisture to fuel microbial activity

Why Compost on the Farm?

1. Improve Soil Fertility

Compost increases:

• Organic matter

• Microbial diversity

• Water retention

• Cation exchange capacity (nutrient holding ability)

This is especially helpful on exhausted hayfields or compacted garden soils.

2. Reduce Fertilizer Costs

Farmers who use compost often reduce their dependency on synthetic fertilizers, which saves money and builds long-term soil health.

3. Recycle Farm Waste

Instead of hauling off manure, spoiled hay, or vegetable scraps, composting allows you to recycle nutrients on-site.

4. Boost Sustainability

Compost helps you sequester carbon, reduce runoff, and lower your farm’s environmental footprint—all while building stronger yields.

How Hay Farmers Can Use Compost

• Spoiled hay can be composted rather than wasted—just mix with fresh manure or green material.

• Manure from hay-fed animals (cows, goats, chickens) is ideal for compost piles when mixed with straw or bedding.

• Use finished compost to:

• Revitalize older hayfields

• Jump-start pasture reseeding

• Feed home gardens or market vegetables

Composting Methods for Every Operation

Turned Pile

Best for larger farms. Requires a front-end loader or manual turning every 1–2 weeks to aerate the pile.

Static Pile

Low-labor method where materials are piled and left to decompose over months. Great for hay trimmings, bedding, and manure.

Bin System

Ideal for homesteads and backyard setups. Wooden or wire bins help manage smaller amounts of compost neatly. It is important to have good airflow with a bin. See our pergola with compost bin in our projects section on our home page!

Vermicomposting

Using worms (usually red wigglers), this indoor method is great for kitchen scraps or small-space composting.

Tips for Effective Composting

• Maintain a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of ~30:1

• Keep moisture like a wrung-out sponge

• Turn piles for faster results (hot compost can finish in 8–12 weeks)

• Let it cure for 1–2 months before applying to crops

Conclusion

Whether you’re managing manure from hay-fed livestock, clearing spoiled bales from the edge of a field, or simply managing a homestead garden, composting offers a simple, sustainable way to return nutrients to the soil. It’s the perfect example of the homestead mindset: waste nothing, build everything.

With compost, you don’t just grow crops—you grow the very soil that sustains them.