The 2026 Illinois Composting Workshop, hosted by the University of Missouri, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and the Illinois Pork Producers Association, will take place at the Orr Research Center (Pike County), in Baylis, IL. The workshop will provide stakeholders with an excellent opportunity to learn about effective livestock mortality management, specifically composting and trench composting. This program brings together experts from Mizzou, UIUC, and IL EPA to provide practical and science-based information on carcass composting. Participants will gain valuable insights into the compost materials, local regulations and carcass management options, compost troubleshooting, emerging methods of trench composting, compost pile demonstration and hands-on measurements.
To support on-farm mortality composting efforts, the first 20 early registrants who work at operating swine farms and intend to use the thermometer at their farm will receive a 36” REOTEMP Super Duty Compost Thermometer (limit of two thermometers per farm/company).
Location: Orr Research Center, RR 1, Baylis, IL 62314
Date: December 2, 2026, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Funding is provided by the National Pork Checkoff, Swine Education & Outreach Professional (SEOP) Grant Program.