The purpose of this composters is to reduce the impact of pollution on surface and groundwater and reduce odor. Even in the event of a power outage, the process continues in the safety of its large long horizontal plastic container. The ingredients are simple, for every bucket of chicken, in goes a bucket of wood shavings.

Inside, an internal drum with spiral blades rotates very slowly mixing, moving and aerating the mixture. The natural process brings the interior temperature to120-125 degrees Fahrenheit. At the end, the compost is slowly expelled -- ready to use. The producer is then able to use it in fields or sell it.

The Smalls work with NRCS District Conservationist Joe Tapp and Agricultural Engineer Britt Hill on their conservation plan that includes this mortality facility.

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NRCS has a proud history of supporting America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. For more than 80 years, we have helped people make investments in their operations and local communities to keep working lands working, boost rural economies, increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and habitat.

As the USDA’s primary private lands conservation agency, we generate, manage, and share the data, technology, and standards that enable partners and policymakers to make decisions informed by objective, reliable science.

And through one-on-one, personalized advice, we work voluntarily with producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their unique conservation and business goals. By doing so, we help ensure the health of our natural resources and the long-term sustainability of American agriculture.

Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) is the Department’s focal point for the nation’s farmers and ranchers and other stewards of private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest lands. FPAC agencies implement programs designed to mitigate the significant risks of farming through crop insurance services, conservation programs and technical assistance, and commodity, lending, and disaster programs.

The agencies and service supporting FPAC are Farm Service Agency (FSA), NRCS, and Risk Management Agency (RMA).

For more information please see www.usda.gov.

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

. Original public domain image from Flickr