Composting Offers Ranchers, Gardeners, and Communities Sustainable Solutions
Pictured above: Thomas Bass (Livestock Environment Associate Specialist), Linda Owens (Madison Valley Ranchlands Group Director) and Maia Schweikert (Madison Conservation Programs Coordinator) pose at the compost site in Norris.
Article Submitted by Linda Owens:
When we throw something “away,” does it ever really disappear? While our trash may vanish from sight in dumpsters and landfills, it lingers in our environment. Even food scraps—one of the largest components of landfill waste—don’t reach their full potential there. Instead of nourishing soils, they generate methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Composting offers a different path: returning valuable nutrients and carbon back to the ground.
On Friday, September 19, the Madison Conservation District, Madison Valley Ranchlands Group (MVRG), and Montana State University (MSU) Extension hosted a Compost Field Day at the Ranchlands Group’s Carcass Compost Facility in Norris. The event brought together community members and natural resource professionals to learn about compost’s role in agriculture, waste reduction, and home gardens.
The day began with an overview of compost science from Thomas Bass, MSU Extension Specialist. He explained the fundamentals before introducing Linda Owens, MVRG Project Director, who leads the group’s carcass composting program.
When most people think of compost, they picture banana peels, coffee grounds, and garden clippings. At the Norris facility, however, composting is used to reduce conflict between ranchers and wildlife. Livestock losses are an unavoidable part of ranching, and carcasses have traditionally been managed by burying, dumping, or other disposal methods. Owens and her team provide carcass pickup and disposal for ranchers across eastern Madison County, helping address predator impacts from wolves, bears, and other wildlife.
There are limits to what can safely go into compost piles, Owens explained. Some diseases and chemicals can persist in soil for years. For this reason, the facility does not accept wildlife such as deer or elk, which may have been exposed to Chronic Wasting Disease. Local veterinarian Doug Young also spoke about how methods of animal euthanasia affect composting. Chemical euthanasia, he noted, can leave residues that contaminate compost. In some cases, more immediate physical methods may be preferable for both animal welfare and environmental health.
Linda and Thomas also mentioned the routine monitoring of the compost piles at the Norris site. They use temperature probes to track heat at the pile’s core—ideally between 120°F and 150°F, the range that signals strong microbial activity. They also collect samples for laboratory analysis, which provides a comprehensive look at pathogens, metals, nutrients, and other key indicators of compost quality and safety.
The conversation then shifted to urban composting. Ryan Green, co-founder of Happy Trashcan Composting in Bozeman, described how his business has grown from just three bins in 2016 to collecting 2.2 million pounds of food scraps annually from households and businesses. “We’re trying to close the loop,” Green said, turning waste into soil amendments that benefit the Gallatin Valley.
Bass and Green also discussed the challenges of so-called “compostable” food containers. While these take-out boxes and utensils may break down in commercial facilities, Green cautioned they are rarely suitable for backyard compost piles, which lack the high heat and moisture needed.
To round out the day, Abi Saeed, MSU Extension Horticulture Specialist, offered tips for home composting. She highlighted materials that break down well—wood chips, fruit and vegetable scraps, brewer grains, grass clippings, and eggshells—while cautioning against adding meat, bones, dairy, or pet waste. Large or dense items like avocado pits, she advised, may take longer to decompose unless chopped into smaller pieces. Saeed also touched on composting with worms or vermicompost. She described the process of vermicompost as relatively low maintenance compared to traditional compost, which requires turning and often a larger area. She explained that worm bins can be kept inside, and added to periodically, as the worms’ activity will provide the necessary aeration and decomposition to make the compost successful. When you are ready to harvest your vermicompost, all you have to do is shine a bright light over the worm bin and scoop out what you want. Worms are sensitive to light and will move towards the bottom of the bin, making collection relatively simple.
From large-scale ranching operations to small backyard worm bins, the event showcased the many ways composting can return nutrients to the soil, reduce waste, and strengthen local sustainability efforts.
For more information about the Madison Valley Ranchlands Group’s carcass compost program, visit their website at https://www.madisonranchlands.org/carcass-pickup-program. If you’d like to explore other compost opportunities, contact our office at (406) 682-3181 or email info@madisoncd.org—we’d be happy to connect you with helpful resources.
