Using Agrilab’s zone technology, operators have aeration control over every stage of the composting process from initial mixing to controlled product drying.
On May 20, an open house was held at the Magnan Farm in Fairfield, Vermont. The purpose was to demonstrate the farm’s new full scale composting operation which represents a major new revenue stream. The operation was developed by Agrilab which specializes in compost aeration and heat recovery.
The Magnan Farm is also a client of Agricultural Digesters and we expect to launch a methane digester at this farm in Spring, 2023. One of the points Agrilab made was that the digested solids Magnan will use in the future have properties to make compost even more valuable than today’s product made from raw manure. Working with Agrilab we hope to bring the revues offered by full composting to our other farm digester clients as well.
Digested solids could also replace peat. Peat releases significant amounts of carbon when it is mined from ancient bogs and then decomposes. Increased awareness of peat mining is leading to demand for more sustainable alternatives. Digested solids from a biodigester are an option because of their high fiber content and other similarities, including key parameters of importance to soilless horticultural producers (Dettling 2013) :
– Long fiber length and good air porosity
– Spongy quality (in contrast to composted products)
– Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) as well as valued trace elements for good root and plant development
– Retains three times its weight in water
The open house was well attended including representatives from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and Markets
Compost heat wagon.