Registration opens, morning refreshments

Welcome and introduction to the course – Dr. Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Ames, IA

Introduction to the composting process – Tom Halbach, extension professor emeritus, Soil, Water and Climate, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN

Break

Matching feedstocks and technology to end uses – Dr. Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Ames, IA

Process variables and recipe development – Dr. Rob Michitsch, professor, Soil and Waste Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI

Lunch (provided)

Use of monitoring equipment and control charts for process variables – Tom Halbach, extension professor emeritus, Soil, Water and Climate, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN

Introduction to recipe calculators – Alex Thomas

Introduction to outdoor field exercises - Building compost piles

Break and move to Compost Facility

Building test piles

Conclude building test piles, travel to evening program at hotel

Hospitality hour

Dinner (provided)

Compost testing standards – Jennifer Trent, Iowa Composting Council

Adjourn for the day

Classroom opens, morning refreshments

Monitor team compost piles and pre-made compost piles

Discuss monitoring results and troubleshooting strategies – Dr. Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Ames, IA

Compost facility design – Dr. Paul Walker, professor emeritus, Illinois State University

On-site compost maturity testing methods and odor management for quality control – Dr. Rob Michitsch, professor, Soil and Waste Resources, University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI

Break

Analyze samples for maturity

Interpretation and use of laboratory results – Alex Thomas

Lunch (provided)

Compost regulations in Iowa: An overview – Theresa Stiner, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Facility operational issues and management – Dr. Paul Walker, professor emeritus, Illinois State University

Break

Fundamentals of food waste composting – Tom Halbach, extension professor emeritus, Soil, Water and Climate, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN

Food waste collection and composting program – Dr. Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Ames, IA

Equipment demonstrations: Screens, turners and grinders

Adjourn for the day

Classroom opens, morning refreshments

Monitor team compost piles and pre-made piles

Compost pile judging

Compost quality issues – Dr. Rob Michitsch, professor, Soil and Waste Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI

Compost marketing – Tom Halbach, extension professor emeritus, Soil, Water and Climate, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN

Break and Q&A time

Managing facility for effective marketing – Dr. Paul Walker, professor emeritus, Illinois State University

Applications and end uses of finished compost – Alex Thomas

Lunch (provided)

Establishing a market for your compost

Break, complete evaluation

Exam

Open discussion, wrap-up

School adjourns