Never put a compost pile or windrow

Never put a compost pile or windrow in the lowest part of a field. The ideal situation is to have a dedicated area where the surface has been graded to a minimum of 2% slope and topped with packed clay or concrete. Packed clay works well but can limit access during very wet weather. Compost windrows should be set up along the grade, not across it. If no covers are used or the area is unsheltered, provisions should be made to collect the surface runoff and either store it using a retention pond, then either apply it to land, add it to the compost piles/windrows, or apply it to grass infiltration areas.