Naturally Better Soil Products converts sewage sludge into compost

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Naturally Better Soil Products converts sewage sludge into compost

One of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first projects to increase domestic fertilizer production is currently underway.

Up to $900 million has been allocated to the USDA’s fertilizer production and expansion program.

Deputy Secretary of State Lillian Salerno told Brownfield, “Prices had risen so much that farmers were having a hard time making ends meet. That’s why this grant program was created and announced for 2022. We had over $3 billion in applications.”

One of them was for Naturally Better Soil Products in southwest Michigan. Brian Geerling’s dairy farm has been using anaerobic digesters for 20 years. He says the farm is now able to compost the sewage sludge residue into a saleable product.

“It will help homeowners, gardeners and landscaping companies tremendously to incorporate it into their operations,” he says. “It will replace some synthetic fertilizers. We also believe that even large agricultural operations could use some of it, perhaps even organic.”

According to Geerlings, the compost shows a tendency towards slow release, which he expects will also help diversify the soil amendment markets.

AUDIO: Lillian Salerno, USDA

AUDIO: Brian Geerlings