Spring is our busiest season of the year, and 2026 has not disappointed. We've been on the road across the Northeast, our customers have been doing remarkable things, and we have a few updates we wanted to share with you. Read on for conference recaps, customer milestones, grant program updates worth knowing about, and a few practical notes for the season ahead. As always, if any of these sparks a question or a project idea, we'd love to hear from you!
Ten Years of Proven Performance with VNAP
A huge congratulations to Vermont Natural Ag Products, whose AGT system is entering its second operational decade later this year - a milestone we are incredibly proud to share! Agrilab Technologies installed the first of two AGT Compost Hot Box 250-4R units at Foster Brothers Farms/Vermont Natural Ag Products back in 2016. Their composting facility is the largest private site in the state and has operated since 1992, with their "MooDoo" line of compost and soil products sold in bags and bulk across eight northeastern states.
Our compost aeration and heat recovery (CAHR) systems have accelerated their composting process, reduced labor and energy consumption, and saved space. The renewable thermal energy recovered from these systems serves as the primary heat source for their 10,000 sq. ft. bagging building.
Robert Foster of Foster Brothers Farms put it best:
"It was nearly 10 years ago that we installed our first Agrilab Technologies compost aeration and heat recovery (CAHR) system. One year later, after working with the system, we expanded our aerated pad system two-fold with an additional Agrilab Technologies CAHR unit. We found that we could cut our composting time conservatively by 50% compared to our conventional windrow turned-pile system. By reversing the aeration, we found we could get a windrow to temperature in less than a week.
We record temperatures of the compost vapor drawn through the windrows which, by monitoring, allows us to gauge the status of the windrows in the system and to refine the process as needed. It also enables us to get significantly more compost from the same footprint on the pad. The Agrilab Technologies system has allowed us to produce better product, timelier, with more control, and easier management."
Ten-plus years of continuous compost aeration and heat recovery is a testament to both the durability of the system and the dedication of the team running it. Here's to many more years of great compost!
On the Road with AGT
We have been active on the conference circuit this spring, connecting with composters, municipalities, and industry partners across the Northeast and beyond! In March, our team exhibited at the Rhode Island Compost Conference & Tradeshow at R.I. College alongside our friends at WeRadiate, and at the Connecticut Compost Conference at Wesleyan University, where standout sessions covered CT’s growing push to develop new private and municipal composting facilities, biochar integration, and a closing panel with Jayne Merner of Earthcare Farm. It was also a pleasure to reconnect with longtime AGT partner Andrew Carpenter of Northern Tilth who presented at the conference.
In late March, AGT President & cofounder Brian Jerose delivered a “Vermont Phosphorus Innovation Challenge” update at the 20th Annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS) in Montpelier. This highlighted the work over several years using compost aeration and nutrient recovery technologies to create value from manure residuals that can otherwise lead to pollution in Lake Champlain and other waterways.
In April, Brian headed to the NYS Organics Summit (NYSOS) in Syracuse to present on three aerated composting installations in northern New York. Highlights of planning, design, installation and operation were shared for three AGT Mini-Systems our team installed at the Whitten Family Farm, Ben Wever Farm and River Valley Regeneratives LLC.
This past May also brought two notable appearances closer to home. On May 6, Andrew pitched AGT at the Greentown Labs Climatetech Pitch Party during Boston Climate Week in Somerville, MA. Then on May 18, co-founder Brian Jerose presented at the NH Recycling Coalition Conference on lessons learned at the Windham Solid Waste Management District in Brattleboro, VT, joining Bob Spencer of WSWMD and Tim Petit of Sanborn, Head & Associates on stage.
Looking Ahead & Staying Connected
We have one more event on the calendar, a listening recommendation, and a holiday wish to share:
May 27: We are planning to attend the RecyclingWorks in MA 2026 Spring Forum at Worcester State University, drop us a note or come say hello if you'll be there!
Composter Podcast: We're proud sponsors of the Composter Podcast by Jayne Merner of Earthcare Farm - a great resource for composters of all scales. Give it a listen!
Happy Memorial Day from the AGT team! As the unofficial start of summer, it's also peak composting season - wishing you full windrows, good temperatures, and smooth operations ahead.
Considering composting infrastructure or compost heat recovery for your operation? We'd love to talk. Whether you're at the napkin-sketch stage or ready to break ground, a quick conversation goes a long way.
Funding programs change frequently, and we're tracking several opportunities relevant to commercial composters, diversified farms, and livestock operations.
Heads up: REAP grants have effectively been pulled. The USDA is no longer accepting new grant applications, the FY26 application window was cancelled, and the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee's FY27 budget proposal eliminates REAP grant funding entirely while cutting the loan guarantee program by 50 percent. REAP guaranteed loans are still being accepted in the meantime.
For operations that had been counting on REAP grant dollars to offset capital costs on heat recovery projects, this is a significant change worth knowing about, and it underscores the importance of state-level programs (like MA CSAP) and other funding mechanisms covered below. We're tracking this closely and will share updates as the regulatory and budget picture evolves. Link to the latest information from rd.usda.gov
For more grant and funding opportunities for your compost operation, please visit our website here.
Agrilab Technologies Inc., 1662 Pumpkin Village Rd., Enosburg Falls, VT 05450, USA, (802) 933-8336
