14/03/2026
After a few days in Sacramento at the USA Compost Council Conference, George Longmuir had some observations to share.
Demo day was impressive shredders, turners and screens all running hard. At every stop there were specifications proudly displayed, with plenty of emphasis on horsepower. The largest I saw was 912HP.
Noise wins!
There is no doubt the machinery is powerful. And it has its place.
But composting isn’t a mechanical contest. It’s a biological process.
You can smash it, grind it, squash it and turn it again - but what we are really trying to do is create the right home for the bacteria. They are the ones doing the work. They come free of charge, they don’t clock off early, and they don’t ask for overtime.
Good composting is about structure and airflow. A windrow should breathe like an open fireplace with a good draw. When the structure is right, air is naturally pulled in at the base and moves up through the mass just as a chimney draws air to keep smoke moving in the right direction.
You don’t force that with horsepower. You design for it.
The most successful operations aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest engines running constantly. They are the ones managing the process.
That’s where CompostManager changes the conversation.
When you understand what is happening inside the windrow - oxygen levels, carbon dioxide, moisture balance - you stop guessing. You stop turning simply because it feels like it’s time. You turn because the biology tells you to.
Sometimes that means act.
Sometimes it means irrigate.
Sometimes it means leave it alone.
Process control reduces unnecessary machinery use, saves fuel, and improves consistency all while proving the windrow is operating as it should.
912HP is impressive.
But well-managed biology is far more powerful.
