Animal composting more common among farmers

Many Iowans compost their leaves and yard waste, and now more farmers are turning to composting as a cheaper way to get rid of dead animals. Getting rid of animals that died on the farm from disease or natural causes used to be as easy as a phone-call to the rendering works. Tom Glanville of Iowa State University’s Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture says that option is no longer cheap or easy, as the availability of rendering has declined. He says prices have gone up for rendering and for the fuel used to incinerate animals.Glanville says there’s also a concern that rendering trucks moving from far to farm will spread disease. The Leopold Center has even created a website that shows farmers examples of animal composting.Glanville says animal composting is basically the same as the composting process used to break down leaves and yard waste. He says the process helps safely get rid of diseased animals because the compost gets so hot.The website is located at: www.ae.iastate.edu/pigsgone.