Marketing Compost : 0n & 0ff Farms. Jean Bonhotal ornell Waste Management Institute

Transcription

1 Marketing Compost : 0n & 0ff Farms Jean Bonhotal ornell Waste Management Institute

2 Potential Markets Topsoil Blends Container Mix/Potting Soil Nursery Beds Turf Establishment Erosion Control Tree and Shrub Backfill DOT Use Vegetable Crops

3 Turf Application

4 Grape Production

5 Landscaping

6 Erosion Control

7 Compost Socks

8

9

10 Know Your Product Know What You Are Trying To Sell Ensuring Quality

11 Acceptable Sampling Methods One sample:16 random grabs, mixed to create a composite Multiple samples collected from each farm Previous research confirms validity of collection method

12 EPA 503 Analytes *Density *%P %K % Solids Maturity Solvita *% Organic Matter C:N *Conductivity *ph Fecal Coliform Inerts CO 3 CO 2 NH 3 H 2 0 H Capacity *% Total N Johne s % Organic N

13 Analytes (cont) *Copper (Cu) Zinc (Zn) Iron (Fe) Arsenic (As) Manganese (Mn) Chromium (Cr) Calcium (Ca) *Weed Seeds (viable) Weed Seed (dormant) % Germination % Weight of Growth Nickel (Ni) Magnesium (Mg)

14 Compost Test Parameters for Leaf and Yard Waste ph Conductivity Maturity (Solvita( Solvita) Inerts Moisture/%solids Organic matter Particle size Nutrients - TKN, ammonia, nitrate, P, K Lead (possibly also arsenic, copper) Weed seeds Fecal coliform

15 CWMI Testing Fact Sheet ph Soluble salts Organic Matter Moisture/solids Total Nitrogen Phosphorous Water holding capacity C:N ratio Density

16

17 Certification Programs US COMPOST COUNCIL - non profit industry organization RODALE ORGANIC GARDENING SEAL OF APPROVAL PROGRAM - joint effort between Rodale and Woods End Research Lab NOFA Good Housekeeping Seal????? Green Seal?

18

19 Catchy Names Tender Loving Compost Field of Dreams Moo Doo Toad Hollow We Care Organics Agway Wegmans Booth s s Blend Greenway Compost Schenectady Co. Compost OCCRA Compost Red Blooded Compost Coast of Maine Mc Enroe Organics VT Compost Company Big Red Doo??? Worm Power Sweet Peet Coblestone Valley Comp. Agricycle Cayuga Compost Bard College Compost

20

21 Goal For Use in Horticulture Erosion control Landfill Cover Community Projects Sell

22

23 Endless Feedstock for Compost? Leaf & Yard Waste Biosolids / Sludge Manure Food Waste MSW Mortality/ Butcher Food Recalls Etc.

24 Are All Composts Created Equal? No, BUT All Types of Compost Have Use Categories

25 Assets and Concerns From Different Feedstock Compost Leaf & Yard Manure Biosolids Food Scrap Mixed Feedstock- The Mutt Fish & Seafood Meat Waste Road Kill

26 Target Industry To Sell Farm Use To whom will you be selling? How will compost be used? Specific Markets General Sales Organic Use General Use

27 -Container Mix/Potting Soil -Nursery Beds -Fruit Production Specific Markets -Tree & Shrub Backfill -Vegetable Crops -DOT/ Erosion Control Things to Consider: Work with customers to understand their needs and requirements May be a demanding market-not you first goal

28 Landscaping General Sales Construction Things to Consider: Know what you are selling and let them know how to use it Test at least once per year/feedstock change Educate Customer = repeat sales

29 Organic Use Things to Consider: Must achieve minimum time and temperature requirements Keep good records No sludge or biosolids composts are allowed More intensive management is required

30 General Farm Use Things to Consider: Maturity is not as critical a factor Easy way to stabilize and recycle agricultural nutrients and organic matter

31 What are your concerns using 14 compost Number of responses (n=42) Burn plants Inconsistency Don't know feedstock Physical contaminants Chemical contaminants Weed seeds Hard to apply None Too wet Odor 0 Industry

32 What encourages you to buy one product over another? 25 Number of responses (n=42) Price Feedstock source Results Ease of obtaining it Ease of use Size of bag/bulk Where it is made 0 Industry

33 What Encourages You to Buy One product Over Another?

34 What Are Your Concerns Using Compost? Q8. What are your concerns using compost? Burn plants Inconsistency 8 Don't know feedstock Physical contaminants Chemical contaminants 6 Weed seeds Hard to apply 4 None Too wet Odor 2 0 Question 8 Q8. Industry

35 From What Sources Would You Like to Obtain Compost? Q10. From what sources would you like to obtain it? Labels Industry Cooperative extension Trade Association Written materials Conferences Question 10 Q10. Industry

36 What Info Would You Like to See on Bag or Label? Q11. What information would you like to see on a bag or label for a compost product? Percent sand ph Metals Organic matter Moisture content Maturity Use instructions Feedstock materials Pathogen content Particle size NPK Content C:N ratio 5 0 Question 11 Q11. Industry

37 Questions Buyers Should be able to Answer? 1. What will it be used for? 2. Application rate? 3. Are there particular elements or conditions required by the crop? i.e. Boron requirement in Vineyards

38 Questions Compost Buyers Might Ask? 1. What feedstock are used to make compost? What carbon source is used? 2. Are any generated Off-Farm? If yes which ones? 3. Are Copper Sulfate or Formaldehyde used on farm? 4. Are pesticides and herbicides used? For what use?

39 Questions Compost Buyers Might Ask (con( con t)? 5. How long is material composted, and by which method? 6. Has hay or bedding been imported from midwest or west? 7. Is it screened and size of screen? 8. Has compost been tested? Are results available?

40 Compost Fertilizer Law Status in NYS Proposal to change Law 2003 Passed House and Senate but Vetoed NYSDAM Charged with Fixing the Issue Word Changes in Existing Rules to Exempt Compost from Law

41 Remember Garbage input = Garbage Output Cornell Waste Management Institute Jean Bonhotal

42 Cornell Waste Management Institute Jean Bonhotal