Continuous Flow Composters Turn Manure Into Money

Continuous Flow Composters Turn Manure Into Money FARM HOME Miscellaneous 33-6-33 Whether you have one cow or 100, Kingsway Mfg. makes a continuous flow composter that can process daily manure production into a more easily stored or even a saleable commodity. Kingsway composters range in size from 300 to 20,000 gal. at prices of $1,000 to $23,000. "The 1,000-gal. unit is my smallest continuous flow composter," says King. "I've built batch units as small as 250 gal., but they serve a very limited need." King recommends his 1,000-gal. unit, priced at $2,400, for hobby farmers with a single cow or two to three horses. It's 6 ft. long and 4 ft. in dia. All continuous flow units automatically cycle the manure from one end of the barrel to the other over a 3 to 6-day process, depending on the amount and make-up of material. Fresh manure is added at one end, while composted material unloads out the other. Turning is accomplished mechanically or with a hydraulic drive. The number and timing of rotations can be controlled manually or automated with a timer. Most units are rotated 4 to 6 times a day. "Raw waste loses all offensive odor within 24 hours of startup," notes King. Smaller (under 1,000-gal.) batch units are equally efficient at turning manure or kitchen waste into compost. Instead of openings at either end, they have a door along the barrel's length for loading and unloading. A small electric motor provides turning power. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kingsway Mfg., 192 West Millport Rd., Lititz, Penn. 17543 (ph 717 626-5809).

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