FAQ

Questions and Answers

Information regarding Hanson’s products and services.

The FAQs listed below include some typical questions from Hanson Silo’s customers. If you have a specific question that isn’t answered below, feel free to contact us. Hanson Silo’s precast concrete experts are here to help you, provide advice, and get your next project off the ground!

Call Hanson at 320.664.4171 for More Information About Products and Services

PRECAST

I am looking for a cement containment wash out block to store garbage in and compact with my loader. I have heard them called “mafia block, coffin block, Windsor block.” Does Hanson make these?
Hanson makes cement panels, 500-pound cement block, concrete picnic tables, and bench sets. Hanson has sold precast wall panels for sanitation garbage and recycling centers.
I am looking for high-capacity, 2-million-bushel-plus permanent but temporary grain storage walls. Does Hanson build temporary grain storage through millwrights in my area?
Hanson supplies temporary cement wall panel storage for a few millwrights in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and Missouri. Contact us and we can help you out.
What is the strongest bunker shape for wheat storage?
The oval shape grain storage bunker is a very popular shape for corn, wheat and soybeans.
Could cement panels work as an alternative to messy sandbags around our city well as a flood protection solution?
Concrete wall panels can be used for temporary flood protection, as a sandbag alternative and as permanent landscape flood barriers.
I am working on a municipal project that requires a series of storage bins for aggregate, materials to be recycled and other loose materials. We are looking to provide precast/reinforced concrete panels to function as walls in this storage application. Is it possible to utilize concrete panels in a municipal application? If not, is there another product that you might be able to recommend?
A Hanson self-supporting Bunker Wall will be your best bet. Hanson’s reinforced concrete panels are engineered to 100 lbs. per cubic foot. We operate factory direct. We have 5 installation crews and recently completed a municipal recycling project in New Jersey. Our sizes of bunker walls are 12′, 8.5′, 8′, 6’ and 5’ high.
I want to build a 100 x 400 flat structure to store corn, about 500,000 bushel. How do I get an estimate for how much this will cost?
A 100 x 400 on farm grain bunker would be ideal to attain 560,000 bu. Please contact us for a quote.
I am building a storage building at a paper mill for paper sludge storage, and am interested in determining if precast walls will work for the installation?
Hanson Silo has done a concrete containment project for recycled scrap metal storage. We could seal up our T walls for your paper sludge. Please contact us directly for more information and a quote.
Would concrete bunkers work as temporary grain storage for milo sorghum?
Our temporary grain storage bunker systems are an ideal choice for grain elevators.
Do you have any information about building covered bunker silos?
We build concrete walls for different storage configurations for fertilizer, crop and potash. We ship them all over North America. Hanson Silo also works with a variety of partners for multiple covering options. Contact us for more information.
Do you offer anaerobic digestion feedstock storage systems with your precast concrete?
We have done NCRS-approved projects for digestion systems using our 8’L bunker walls. Contact us for more information.
Do you have engineered containment walls for bio reactors? I need 10 1-million-gallon bio reactors for algae.
We are the top choice for engineered containment walls. Our modular systems can be easily expanded to fit your changing needs.
I am looking to build a 34’ x 80’ Farm Tek hoop barn for hogs. Could concrete blocks be used as the pony wall for something like this? What are the sizes and cost? How heavy are the concrete blocks?
Pony walls can be built from 5’ to 12’ high. 5’ walls weigh 3,200 lbs. and the 12’ weigh 12,500 lbs. Please contact us directly for pricing information.
Do you make silo pit walls? I currently have an on-ground silage pile and am looking at a bunker to increase my feed quality and decrease hassle and waste.
We do make silage pit walls. Please contact us for more information – we can also put you in contact with other customers in your area to view how their silo walls are working for them.
I want to store about 3000 cubic yards of silage to feed to beef cattle over a 12-month period. Can I get a quote of your most economical method to do this?
We build the longest lasting and lowest cost of ownership system. Please contact us and we can discuss details of your project.
I am in need of a concrete grain bin for an elevator expansion. My number one priority is low cost per bushel, and my number two priority is strength and engineering. Do you have any solutions that would suit my needs?
Hanson is a world leader in concrete temporary flat storage grain bin manufacturing, offering the strongest and heaviest steel rebar storage tanks in the industry with capacities up to 4 million bushel. Our tank sidewall is precast at the Hanson plant. The heavier gauge sidewall allows us to provide taller tanks with our advanced design, compared to other manufacturers who provide wood or 5 gauge sidewalls as their maximum thickness and rely on lamination to try to match the concrete strength.
Is it practical to ship your concrete storage units to me if I am far away? Do you have a plant closer to me?
Please contact us for a quote. We can ship to many states with freight included, which often costs much less than engineering and pouring a concrete wall locally.
I am looking at steel fence storage for coal. What are the main differences between steel coal storage and concrete?
Concrete storage will withstand the test of time much better than a steel grain fence. It is a more permanent yet portable and modular approach you’ll be happy with.
I am researching a composting site for my hog farm. The size of my project can be adjusted a bit to avoid cutting any of the wall sections short. I am considering a hoop roof or traditional roof to install on top. I am also considering a large machine storage shed. Could you let me know your thoughts on this?
You’re at the right place. Hanson has many projects where our modular pre-cast wall systems have helped producers achieve their optimal flexibility on our systems. Please contact us for more information.
Do you have any concrete bunker silos to store urea and muriate of potash (KCL or MOP)?
Yes we do. Please contact us for more information.
Have you ever constructed a bunker silo for wood or other pellets? I am investigating biofuel production for the US Government Armed Forces.
Yes, we have constructed commercial storage bunkers for wood chips. Please contact us for more information.
I am interested in bulkhead walls for dividing a cement bunker for fertilizer storage, about 100 to 120 feet.
Our bulkhead walls can span up to 12 feet. You may want to anchor them to prevent against the slide factor when setting them on smooth concrete.
I am interested in putting up a clearspan building for dry fertilizer storage. I see on your website that you have a 6' panel that is suitable for walls for this type of application. What is the weight of an 6' section? What is the cost per 6' section? I would likely freight the walls to my location with my own truck. Also, what is the availability of these wall sections right now and do you have any financing options available for this product?
We do have a 6’ foundation panel. Each section weighs about 7,600 lbs. We normally work up numbers for an entire project, so we need more details. Please contact us for more information.
I am looking for an 18’ x 18’ salt storage option, with a desired wall height of 8’6”. How do I get a cost estimate for the product, delivery, and any other associated costs?
Please contact us for more information on our salt storage precast walls.
I need Protection Walls to set inside a building. I am looking at steel containment walls but they are cost prohibitive to be wheel loader resistant. How do I find out pricing?
Our T panels are solid concrete and have stood the test of time of wheel loaders unloading against them within reason. Modular Protection walls can help save your building and you can replace an eight-foot panel if needed, rather than the entire wall. Please contact us for pricing.
I am thinking about putting a concrete liner wall in my old warehouse. I want to use this space to pile bulk aggregates and materials. What is the best way to do that for a concrete liner?
Usually a Hanson L-shaped prebuilt concrete wall works the best for a building liner wall. These are similar to a liner kit used on a grain building, but with the ability to change and not put the stress on the building side wall. Our L panels are free standing and fit close to the wall to gain maximum capacity. In some applications you may need to anchor the heel to prevent slide, depending on what you are setting them on.
I need the ability to reconfigure and build a system big enough for my needs down the road. Storage capacity is an important factor in my precast bunker silo panels. I've heard Hanson concrete bunker silo panels are the best, but can they be reconfigured for future storage needs?
You certainly called the right place. One of the biggest mistakes we hear time and time again is a client’s failure to plan for the future. Some people throw money away on plastic silo bags each year, others are convinced pouring walls are the answer. But precast concrete bunker walls are one of the most versatile products. Many of our customers move them around for different uses, from fertilizer storage, to feed and dry grains.
I am looking for the most economical way to store fertilizer. About 2000 tons of urea (50ppcf) in two bins (1000 each). I like your concrete containment walls but I would need to completely close it in. What do you recommend?
I would recommend storing the fertilizer in a building and put our walls inside the building. You can do this a few ways: Put a hoop building over the panels (this allows maximum airflow for your caustic fertilizer), or put a stick built building over the panels or on top of them. Our solutions are flexible, and we work with you to determine the best one for your situation.
I am building a recycling facility in an existing building with a slab floor, and am looking to implement a storage bunker system. Would your T modules work well for us, and how do I get pricing?
The T modules work well for separating materials in recycling. Please contact us for an estimate.
I am interested in further sorting of our scrap metal raw materials and would like to put some of our material in bins for easier handling. However, we utilize a pretty aggressive material handling practice at our facility using CAT 988H wheel loaders to move our scrap. Would your walled systems be able to withstand large amounts of weight and pressure from the scrap and loaders? How high can materials be stored effectively in your walled bins?
We have the best engineering in the industry. The best part about going with a modular wall is if one panel gets damaged, you can replace one rather than the whole wall.
I'm researching Precast walls for our shooting range, and am want to know if silo walls could be a possible solution? We would be installing 2 walls 160’ long.
We do have shooting walls. We recently completed a precast berm shooting wall project. Please contact us for more information.
We have a 147' x 440' covered concrete slab with 10' concrete retaining walls. The walls on this flat storage have started pushing outwards. To counteract this, the previous owners of this location piled mounds of dirt on the outside of the walls. We would be interested if you could provide a solution for us?
We see this a lot! Putting Hanson walls in an old building can help to contain the load of the grain and lets the building wall hold up the roof. Our 8’, 12’ or 16′ high L walls work great for this issue.
I noticed in one of your videos that a customer installed T-panels on dirt. How did that work out?
Bunker substrate durability depends on local soil conditions and annual rainfall. Contact us to discuss the best options for your location.

ARCHITECTURAL DOME ROOFS

What sizes (diameters) of dome roofs are available?
10’0” to 30’0” in two-foot increments. Please contact us if these sizes don’t fit or if you have any further questions about sizing for your project.
What materials or colors are available for dome roofs?
Acrylic coated Galvalume Plus and over 20 colors in flurocarbon (Kynar) coatings. Surfaces may also be powder coated in a variety of colors or coated with a baked-on primer for painting any color.
Can domes be painted?
Yes. You can paint our basic white material with proper preparation.
Can I install a dome roof myself?
Anyone with a common knowledge of construction and a few simple tools can assemble a Hanson Silo Dome.
Do the domes attach to a sub frame?
No, dome roofs do not attach to a sub frame. They are self-supporting and attach to a mounting bracket.
How do I attach a dome roof to my structure?
You will need to provide a circular wall plate to receive and support the roof. Hanson Silo will supply an anchoring system best suited for the structure, or you may make your own.
How are dome roofs shipped?
Dome roofs are made up of individual pie-shaped wedges that are bundled, packaged and crated for shipment by commercial carrier to the location of your choice.
Are dome roofs weatherproof?
Domes can be weatherproofed by the installer by applying a clear caulk at each rib and/or a foam weather strip between the rib joints and roof cap.
Can I insulate a dome roof?
Spray-on foam insulation can be used, but the preferred method is to place a slightly smaller dome under the main dome. This allows room for insulation, wiring, and a finished interior view of the roof.
What are the wind and snow load ratings for dome roofs?
While no specific load ratings are available, this style of dome roof has been manufactured for more than 70 years and installed in heavy snow country, such as Minnesota, Wisconsin and Quebec. In high wind areas we recommend reinforcing structures, and have them available.
Do you offer dome roofs in other shapes?
Yes. Hanson Silo builds half-dome roofs from the same material and color options as other domes.
I am restoring an old Hanson silo that needs a roof. How do I get an estimate of how much this would cost?
We would need to know the diameter of the silo and if the top rod is in good shape. Hanson Silo can also help with other silo services like leveling and relining, as well as door and chute replacement. Please contact us for more information.
I am an engineer who has restored 2 homes using historical or facsimile products. Inspired by the domes of Italy, I am building a conservatory with a Hanson dome (probably your medium-sized range). Are your domes suitable for this? Could it be painted with an outdoor metallic paint?
Yes, a dome would work for this project. You would want us to put a baked primer on the dome roof so you can paint it any color. We could also powder coat paint it for you.
I live on a small family farm with an old silo, built in 1935, that everyone tells us should be torn down. It has pieces of cement and mortar falling from the upper areas from time to time, but we've kept the silo with the idea of making it into a carillon tower. I think it's not quite large enough in diameter for a real carillon, but could work for a recording unit that plays the carillon sounds. We don't want to do anything that would be unsafe, but you seem to be able to repair such structures (as opposed to us taking it down). How do I find out if the silo is “savable,” and an estimate of how much it would cost to do that?
Hanson Silo is happy to look at existing silos with our Engineering and Silo Specialist teams, who can zoom into existing pictures to analyze cracks. Please contact us so we can provide an estimate.
I don’t see what I’m looking for here. How can I get in touch about Dome Roofs?
Please contact us for pricing information or other questions.

FARM EQUIPMENT

I’m thinking of buying a used Valmetal batch mixer. I would also like to compare to new Valmetal mixers. Do you do demos of your farm equipment?
Yes. Hanson Silo does trade batch mixers and the inventory changes daily, but we can check what we have available. We also do on-site farm demonstrations of our Valmetal Mixers and Total Mixed Ration (TMR) Mixers. Please contact us!
What sizes of silo unloaders are available? I have a 30’ x 90’ sealed Feedstor Silo with a Big Jim Butler unloader. I’d like to replace our unloader and want to know what sizes the Valmetal comes in.
Valmetal V2000 center hole silo unloaders come in a 30’ size. Other Valmetal V2000 sizes are: 20’, 24’, 25’ for Harvestores, and 26’ and 30’.
I've always been curious about center hole bottom unload silo unloaders. How do you fill them to get the center hole formed? Has there been any problems with the center hole plugging? I’m guessing you put a false floor in the bottom of the silo with a cross conveyor?
You must have seen our YouTube video! The unloader runs backwards when you are filling the silo and packs the feed into the walls. There is a hole forming tube that goes into the silage and the unloader packs around it. None of the Valmetal bottom unloaders have had major hole plugging. We can retrofit your top unloading or bottom unloading silo to use this high-capacity unloader.
I am looking to replace my Vandale single cable unloader with a new Hanson Silo unloader, but can’t find a dealer near me.
Please contact us to get in touch with a salesman.
I am looking for concrete cattle bunks. Can you tell me about your cattle bunks?
We have a 14” feed bunk that is J bunk shape.
Do you have information and/or pricing available on your auto-ration products? I know there are many variables/options.
We do have more information on the only fully automated feeding system that requires no human intervention. Please contact us.
I just bought a new JP 8 row corn head and will be needing a new head transport. How do I get more information and prices?
The ST25 header trailer works well for what you might need. Please contact us for more information.

SILO REPAIR

Can I buy just the silo rings to reinforce a 24 ft. water tank? I would need the hoops, connectors and nuts, but no staves. I'd also need silo bands, lugs and nuts to complete this tank.
Yes. We provide several stock combinations and custom sizes of silo hoops from 10′ up to 30′ and larger. Our rods are 9/16″ 60,000 lb. tensile strength and silo bands work well to fasten large structures.
I am looking for a silo conversion on both a Madison stave bottom unload silo and one of my Harvestores we have been having problems with. Can you convert the silo when it is full?
Hanson has completed several hundred silo conversions from bottom unload to top. Although we can do it when the silo is full, we prefer to do it before you fill.
I am looking for price ranges for a conversion kit from bottom unloader to chute/top unloader for an 80 ft. Harvestore and possibly a set up at our farm.
We are the #1 installer of conversions. Please contact us for more information.
We have a concrete stave silo that developed a crack in early spring. We would like to have it shot-creted from the bottom 20 feet.
Shot-crete or Gunnite is a good solution to reinforce your old silo and strengthen it. Please contact us for more information.
I have a Harvestore silo that has been converted to a top unloading but never had a tripod installed. I would like to put a tripod on this silo so I don’t have to remove the unloader each year. Can you give me the name of someone who can do this work?
We have a tripod kit with stiffeners that go onto the top sheet sections. We can add this on to your Steel silo. Please contact us for more information.

COMMERCIAL SILO / GRAIN ELEVATOR REPAIR

We are a large food and grain company with an annex of 20 silos used for oats, barley and wheat. Our commercial silos are leaking and need to be re-sealed. Does Hanson offer this kind of services?
Hanson’s commercial silo repair team has over 80 years of combined experience. We can help you, please contact us for more information.
Are you able to replaster stave silos?
Hanson Silo offers commercial replastering of the inside of silo clusters and outside concrete repair. We can seal cracks and repair spalled concrete, and do tuck pointing with a variety of industrial bonds and caulking. Please contact us for more information.

POWDER COAT & BLASTING SERVICES

I have a race car that I would like to have blasted and powder coated. What would pricing look like and what are your color/finish options?
We have several options for colors, and offer textured finish and a variety of glosses. If your race car frame is currently liquid painted or unpainted it will blast much easier and cost less. Please contact us for more information and pricing.

FEED STORAGE

I am looking for a modular temporary grain storage system that could double as silage storage down the road. We have a slab we could set the walls on. I am looking to store 150,000 bushel of corn. What size would you recommend?
Please contact us for more information on the options you have.
I have a 10-foot-high buttress-style corn bunker with high moisture corn stored in it. It is old and I want to take down the one 208' stationary wall and replace with a Hanson stationary walls T panel system about 10.5' high. How do your stationary walls compare to poured concrete?
There are several things to consider when comparing our walls with poured concrete structures: What is the cost of engineering your poured-in-place wall? What if you’d like to change the configuration in the future? With poured walls, you need to jack-hammer them apart and find a place to take them. Hanson stationary walls are modular so you can easily move them or resell them. Keep that in mind, and contact us for more information.
My farm owns/operates a dairy farm and we want another bunker for silage storage. We already have two bunkers, but they are built into the side of a hill. I am interested in the pricing of your 6' and 8' pre-cast bunker silo walls.
That is a good choice. Your feed quality will increase significantly with our 6- or 8-foot wall panels. Please contact us for more information and pricing.
I am looking for a bunker silo capacity chart. Do you have silo capacity charts you could send me?
Yes, we have a bunker silo capacity chart and a configurator which has helped many producers size up their project, whether it’s a bunker silo for this year or a bunker silo for next year. Please contact us for more information.
I am looking at a silage bunker and a commodity shed with 3 bays. Do you build the commodity shed or do you just do the panels?
We do not build the top part, as there are so many ways to do that. Most producers have contractors to do that. We specialize in the Bunker Silo and commodity storage bin parts of your project.
I have a feed pile on the ground and am looking for an earthen bunker or some silo pit walls. I would like to put up 50,000 bushel of high moisture corn on one side of my silo pit walls, and ground ear corn or snaplage on the other side. Is this possible?
A great part about our silo liner walls/bunkers is that you can adjust or scale them to the commodity to fit your rations as they change. Many of our customers like kicker cells on the side to put dry distillers, beet pulp and other by-products from refineries and ethanol plants. Talk to your nutritionist for the best mix.
I currently feed potato slurry, wet corn gluten, WDGs, course ground hay, pressed cake (about 25% DM), soil pellets, and wet distillers’ grains. How does your prefabricated system work with these feedstuffs?
From beet pulp to bubble gum, we have seen it all. Please contact us to discuss any bunker silo project.
We are looking at purchasing a dairy farm in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Do you ship product to Canada?
Yes. You’ll find our precast concrete feed centers have a great deal of value far beyond the price of freight going to Canada.
I am looking at your Easy Rake silage facer. What is the reach of the Easy Rack? What is the cost of Easy Rake? What does it weigh?
Hanson’s patented Easy Rake® defacer is the preferred feeding tool for beef and dairy producers. We make 8 different sizes on loaders with reach from 14-59′ depending on the loader. Please contact us for more information and specifics.

GRAIN STORAGE SYSTEMS 

I need bulkhead walls for cracked corn - 2 bays about 30' each with bulkhead walls set up in a building. Is this something you sell?
We can help with your bulkhead wall need. Contact us for more information.
I am pricing a grain storage system. Low cost per bushel compared to a bin is what is most important to me. We are currently working with a different brand that sells a package with square corners. Last I checked, my dry corn won't flow into a square corner. I really like your round end corn storage design and I am looking to store 300,000 bushel. Does Hanson make systems cost effective enough for a progressive farmer like me?
We’ll get you a grain storage system you are happy with that will meet your low target cost per bushel. Please contact us for more information.
I would like some information on grain bunkers that hold approximately 500,000-750,000 bushel. What options are available to me?
Hanson has your permanent and temporary grain storage solution. Our grain storage bunkers are all over the countryside at farms and elevators. Please contact us for more information.
We have an ethanol plant in Central Kansas. We seek a cost effective way to reliably store corn or milo from harvest in fall until the following summer. We fear a ground pile will not last past May. What do you recommend?
Many of our customers leave grain in their bunkers until August. The Extron Grain monitoring system allows you to monitor the condition of the grain at all times via an iPhone app.

BULK STORAGE

I need containment walls for a coke storage facility. How much do your concrete panels cost for the bulk coke storage?
Hanson ships our walls all over the US for a variety of storage applications. Please contact us for more information.
I am building a 70’ x 300’ dry fertilizer plant and want to use your bunker divider/walls as an exterior footing/wall. I would require 8-foot exterior walls and 12-foot interior. I see very similar applications in your gallery; what would you recommend for me?
Hanson bunker walls work great for fertilizer storage, from 500-ton facilities up to 35,000-ton fertilizer plants. Please contact us for more information.
I am looking to put up a single urea bin next to our existing dry fertilizer storage building. I'm limited for space - how tall could a concrete wall could be erected?
Depending on the space constraints, we can go up to 16 feet for fertilizer walls. Please contact us for more information.
I am interested in the fertilizer rakes that you have. We have a John Deere 244J payloader. What are my Easy Rake options for such a payloader? Do you have different lengths available?
John Deere 244J has length options from 6′ long to 16′, plus the height of your hinge pin. Easy Rake for telehander can reach 61′ up with a 55′ boom.

HEADER TRANSPORTS

Could I get information on your head trailers? I am looking for a solution for stalk stompers. Could I get pricing on your units?
Our ST Series header cart is a great solution for producers who are using stalk stompers and want to leave them on the head while transporting. Please contact us for more information and pricing.

COMPOSTING

Will I have problems with odor?
No. A properly managed compost pile with enough bulking agent will not produce offensive odors. Farmer cooperators in three Minnesota demonstration projects found that the layer of sawdust or bedding on top of the pile greatly reduced odor and, once the compost heated up, offensive odors were essentially absent. However, turning the pile may produce odors.
Will the composting piles attract flies and rodents?
No. Flies are not a problem because internal temperatures above 130F will kill existing fly larvae. Also, when piles are covered by at least 12 inches of bulking agent, flies and rodents are not attracted to the area. If manure is used in the pile and not covered adequately by a bulking agent, some flies may be present on the surface but they will not be able to reproduce.
Will the compost spread diseases?
No. The high temperatures of proper composting will destroy most harmful bacteria and viruses associated with livestock. Viruses that cause avian influenza, Newcastle disease and pseudo rabies are completely inactivated by the end of the second heat cycle. Bacteria such as Salmonella enteritidis, Pasteurella multocida, Erysipelas rhusiopathiae and Salmonella cholerasuis will be successfully destroyed by the composting process.
Will composting work with all animals?
Yes. Poultry, swine, sheep, and goats can all be composted without a permit. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health regulations require a permit for cattle. With larger animals, such as sows and larger cattle, some of their large bones may take longer to decompose than with smaller animals. These bones can be removed from the finished compost and returned to an active pile for further composting. Note that while any species can be composted, Minnesota Board of Animal Health regulations do not allow composting of any animals that died from anthrax or toxic materials.
Will I recognize animal parts in the compost when I turn it?
No. Farmer cooperators in three Minnesota demonstration projects found that when the piles were ready for the first turning, the only recognizable parts were larger bones. These bones were rubbery and decalcified, and could be broken easily. There were even fewer after the second turning.
Is composting costly?
No. The main cost is in building a composting structure. Some farmers in Minnesota have renovated existing buildings for little cost. Another cost may be a front-end or skid steer loader to handle the mortalities and compost. The only on-going cost is the bulking agent and the skid steer. Your farm may have bulking agents (such as straw, litter, bedding, or corn stalks) available at no cost. If not, you will have to purchase bulking agent. This cost should be minimal.
Will composting take a lot of labor?
No. The labor involved is minimal, consisting of placing any new mortalities in the bin every day and covering them with bulking agent, checking the temperature of the pile every day, moving the pile between the primary and secondary stages of composting, and moving the finished compost to storage. One Minnesota farmer who had a composting demonstration site on his farm estimated that it took about ten minutes each day to manage.
Are there uses for the compost when it's done?
Yes. The finished compost can be used in your next compost pile to replace part of the bulking agent and provide a large microbial population right away. It can also be spread on crop fields to provide beneficial organic matter and nutrients to the soil and the crops.
Can composting be done in the winter in Minnesota?
Yes. Active piles will continue to heat during the winter. New piles should not be started during the winter unless active, hot compost is available as the bulking agent.
Can any size operation use composting?
Yes. However, if small operations use a seasonal livestock production cycle they may not want to start in the winter.
Can varmints be a problem around the compost pile?
Yes. Visiting dogs, coyotes, raccoons, skunks and foxes can become problems. A very hot and active compost pile where the carcasses are adequately covered is the best solution.
Call Hanson Silo Company at 320.664.4171 for more information