Compost science
Operations and equipment
Environmental management
Trade and professional organizations
On-farm uses
Compost teas for disease suppression
Vermicomposting
Clopyralid

Compost science
On-Farm Composting Handbook, Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, 186 pages. Probably the best and most comprehensive summary of the composting process, including composting methods, raw materials, using compost, site and environmental considerations, marketing, economics and management. Also included are 55 figures, 32 tables, calculations, references, and a glossary. 1992.

The science and engineering of composting, operations and equipment, Cornell University.

Organic soil amendments and fertilizers. David Chanay, et al. University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Publication 21505. 32 pages.1992. An excellent review of all the different types of organic amendments commonly available to farmers.

Compost Production and Utilization: A Growers Guide. Mark Van Horn. University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Publication 21514. 19 pages. 1995. A condensed version of the previous publication. Order from the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Price: $5.

The Compost Foodweb, Soil Foodweb Incorporated, Dr. Elaine Ingham, Corvallis, OR. A private compost testing a advisory service serving the entire Northwest. Has numerous, easy-to-read articles on composting, and vermi-composting.

Operations and equipment
On-Farm Composting Handbook, Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, 186 pages. Probably the best and most comprehensive summary of the composting process, including composting methods, raw materials, using compost, site and environmental considerations, marketing, economics and management. Also included are 55 figures, 32 tables, calculations, references, and a glossary. 1992.

Whatcom Manufacturing, Lynden, Washington, builder of quality compost spreaders.

Environmental management
The Washington State Solid Waste Management Plan. Executive summary in the form of a PDF document. Published in April, 1991. Outlines the Washington state Depertment of Ecology's role in compost manufacturing, in order to reduce the waste stream, but also to protect the environment.

BioCycle magazine, is the leading trade magazine, published since 1960, on farm, municipal, and industrial composting. This monthly magazine covers operations, industry trends, equipment, maketing, and economics. A yearly suscription costs $69.

Trade and professional organizations
US Composting Council. The council is involved in research, public education, composting and compost standards, expansion of compost markets and the enlistment of public support.

On-farm uses
Farm-Scale composting resource list, Steve Diver, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA). This guide is packed full of useful web links to all stages of compost science and utilization. 1998.

Compost teas for disease suppression
Time for compost tea in the northwest, commercial experiences. Adrienne P. Touart, BioCycle Magazine, October, 2000. A good over-view of the uses of compost tea, with references on activities in the Pacific Northwest.

Vermicomposting
Worms for Composting (Vermicomposting), Alice Beetz, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, excellent over-view of using red worms for composting plant and animal residues. 1999.

Ban on using clopyralid on lawns to continue, Washington State Department of Agriculture News Release. May, 2002

Clopyralid herbicide and compost, Brad Gaolach, Washington State University King County, Agriculture and Natural Resources Fact Sheet #538.

Clopyralid in Compost: Herbicide contamination raises problems for compost. Washington State Department of Agriculture. March 2002.

Clopyralid in compost, Craig Cogger and Andy Bary, Washington State University Puyallup. Site has close-up color plates of the damage on beans from clopyralid.