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Our History
In 1913 the City of Milwaukee created a sewerage commission charged with the responsibility of cleaning
up the waterways. That same year, a chemist in England was experimenting with the biosolids in sewage
sludge. Air was allowed to bubble through wastewater for a period of time. When the air was turned
off, and the mixture settled, the water was purified. This was the beginning of the activated sludge
process.
The Milwaukee Sewerage Commission's laboratory studied the new process and formally adopted it for use
on December 31, 1919. In 1921 interceptor sewers were installed to connect to municipal sewers, which
enabled all wastewater treatment to be completed at a central location. Jones Island, on the shore of
Lake Michigan, was chosen for that site, and in 1923 construction began on the first large scale
activated sludge plant in the world. In 1974, the Jones Island Wastewater Treatment Plant was named a
National Historic Engineering Site by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Enter O.J. Noer
The major problem with this new sewerage treatment process was the production of solids – the microbes
left over from the treatment process. For a city the size of Milwaukee, this meant that between 50,000
and 70,000 tons of dried microbes needed to find a home. Simply land-filling this waste was expensive
and wasted a valuable resource.
In the early 1900’s, the Sewerage Commission established a fellowship at the University Of Wisconsin
College Of Agriculture under the direction of Professor Emil Truog to investigate uses of activated
sludge as a fertilizer. O.J. (Oyvind Juul) Noer was named as the fellow to carry out the work.
Noer determined that the average nutrient analysis of the material was 6.2 percent total nitrogen, with
5.17 percent being water insoluble nitrogen (83% WIN); 2.63 percent available phosphate (P205) and 0.4%
soluble potash (K20). In his literature review, Noer found that the available nitrogen generally
resembled so-called high grade organic nitrogenous fertilizers and give superior growth results compared
to manures and chemical fertilizers of the time.
After experimenting with field crops and vegetables, Noer experimented with the use of this organic
nitrogen fertilizer on golf courses and found it superior and one-third the cost of other fertilizers
commonly used at the time. Additionally, it provided two distinct advantages: first, there was no
danger of burning the turf even with over-application; second, it produced a dark green dense turf
without causing excessive top growth.
Initial test plots were developed at Blackhawk Country Club and Maple Bluff Country Club in Madison,
Wisconsin. Plots were subsequently established in Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Cleveland, and St. Paul.
Word spread among golf course superintendents across the country about this new organic nitrogen
fertilizer, Noer knew he had a commercially viable product. In 1925, the Sewerage Commission concluded
that the disposal problem they faced could be solved by producing and marketing the fertilizer.
MIL-waukee-ORGAnic-NITrogEn
Of course, any commercial product needed a name. In 1925, a contest to name the new organic fertilizer
was advertised in the National Fertilizer Magazine. First prize was awarded to McIver and Son of
Charleston, South Carolina for their entry "Milorganite," derived from MILwaukee ORGAnic NITrogEn. Now
with a name and an identity, the Sewerage Commission began marketing Milorganite in late 1925. By the
end of 1926, about 5,500 tons was inventoried, with orders placed for 2,500 tons.
By the mid-1930's, production hit 50,000 tons, selling for up to $20 per ton, and production could not
keep up with demand. At that time, most Milorganite was sold to fertilizer companies for blending with
other Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (N-P-K) sources, and very little was sold into the specialty
fertilizer market.
Research continued through the mid-1930's, with Noer establishing a soils lab at the Milwaukee
Metropolitan Sewerage District to aid his studies. This was the first soils lab established exclusively
for turfgrass. Through his work in the lab, Noer pioneered much of the methodology used in modern labs,
including sampling depths and techniques, as well as laboratory procedures. Additionally, Noer
determined through clipping analysis that the basic nutrient ratio in plant tissue was 3:1:2 (Nitrogen:
Phosphorus: Potassium) instead of the 1:4:2 originally thought. From these studies came the basic
Milorganite fertilization recommendations. These recommendations have stood the test of time and still
fit well, even in the low nitrogen fertilization programs commonly used in modern turf management
regimes.
Milorganite Today
Over the years, Milorganite has adapted to market changes. In 1926, most of the Milorganite was sold in
bulk, but by the mid-1930's it was also packaged in 25, 50 and 100 lb. bags. In 1955, packaging changed
to offer 40 and 80 lb. bags and again in the 1970's as 20 kg bags were introduced with the movement to
metric in the U.S. Today Milorganite is sold in a distinctive 36 lb. bag
exclusively for the retail market, 50 lb. bags for the professional market, and bulk bags for
large area applications. The blending market continues to be important as other companies find the
nutrient analysis to be a valuable addition to their products.
Sound, practical agronomic research continues to be a top priority. Milorganite has been included in
and has helped fund many important research projects at universities across the country. Areas of
interest include nutrient leaching and run-off, the effects of different fertility regimes and sources
on irrigation requirements, and the effect of Milorganite phosphorus in the environment.
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