Ecology Blocks for Agriculture
How Washington State Farmers Are Using Precast Concrete Blocks
Washington State’s agriculture is incredibly diverse — from the vast wheat fields of the Palouse, to the fruit orchards and vineyards of the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys, the dairy and cattle ranches of Eastern Washington, and the irrigated vegetable production in the Columbia Basin.
Across all these operations, one rugged, versatile product keeps showing up: ecology blocks.
These large precast concrete blocks (typically 2×2×6 ft, ~3,500–4,000 lbs each) offer farmers and ranchers a fast, durable, and surprisingly affordable way to build storage, containment, and organization structures — without the permanence and high cost of poured concrete.
Here’s how Washington ag producers are putting ecology blocks to work.
Feed Bunkers: The #1 Farm Use
The ecology block feed bunker is hands-down the most common agricultural application in Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
A feed bunker is a three-sided enclosure (U- or L-shaped) designed to store large volumes of bulk feed — silage, haylage, corn silage, chopped hay, grain mixes, or supplements — while allowing easy access for tractors and loaders.
Why ecology blocks beat traditional poured bunkers:
Stack 2–4 courses high (4–8 ft tall) on the sides and back
Open front for tractor/loader packing and feeding
No forms, no rebar, no curing wait time
Easily reconfigured, expanded, or moved as herd size or feed needs change
Concrete resists the acidic environment of fermented feeds
Typical sizing:
2 courses high (~4 ft) — smaller operations or supplemental feeding
3–4 courses high (~6–8 ft) — dairy, feedlots, larger cow-calf operations
Widths usually 20–40 ft to match loader reach and packing efficiency
Eastern Washington dairies, beef feedlots, and mixed livestock operations use these bunkers extensively.
Silage Pits & Fermentation Bunkers
For high-volume silage storage — especially corn silage, grass haylage, or alfalfa — ecology blocks create reliable silage pits or fermentation bunkers.
Key advantages in silage applications:
Concrete withstands the low pH of fermentation acids
Massive weight resists outward pressure from packed silage
Pair with plastic sheeting, oxygen-barrier film, and tires/sandbags to seal the top for proper anaerobic fermentation
Adjust dimensions or relocate as crop yields or herd needs shift
Dairies in the Yakima Valley, Columbia Basin, and Eastern Washington rely on ecology block bunkers to store winter feed reliably and cost-effectively.
Commodity Storage Bins
Washington farms handle a huge variety of bulk commodities: potatoes, onions, dry beans, grain, seed, fertilizer, feed supplements, and more.
Ecology blocks build flexible commodity storage bins that:
Keep materials separated and contained
Allow covered or semi-covered storage when roofed
Expand quickly at harvest time (just add blocks)
Avoid the huge capital expense of new steel bins or concrete structures
Palouse wheat growers use them for temporary overflow grain storage. Columbia Basin vegetable producers use them to organize onions, potatoes, or carrots during packing season.
Compost Management & Manure Containment
Composting — whether for soil building, nutrient management, or regulatory compliance — is growing on Washington farms.
Ecology block compost bins are ideal because:
Multiple bays allow staged composting (active vs. curing piles)
Open-front design makes turning piles easy with a loader
Blocks contain material while allowing airflow
Expandable as manure or crop residue volume increases
Durable in wet winters and resistant to breakdown
County extension services and conservation districts frequently recommend ecology block setups for cost-effective, compliant manure and organic waste management.
Livestock Containment & Working Areas
While ecology blocks are too large for everyday small pens, they excel for heavy-duty livestock infrastructure:
Perimeter walls around sorting pens, squeeze chutes, or weigh stations
Loading chute barriers and handling area dividers
Feedlot separation walls in large operations
Windbreaks or shelter dividers in open feedlots
The blocks stand up to livestock pressure, weather, and equipment contact — and can be rearranged as layouts change.
Pesticide, Fertilizer & Chemical Containment
Washington Department of Agriculture rules require proper secondary containment for pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other ag chemicals to protect groundwater and soil.
Ecology blocks create fast, compliant containment berms around:
Storage sheds/tanks
Mixing/loading pads
Fertilizer bulk tanks
Combined with an impermeable liner or concrete pad, they meet regulatory needs without expensive custom pours.
Equipment & Shop Organization
On farms with lots of machinery — tractors, planters, harvesters, sprayers — ecology blocks help organize:
Implement parking bays
Covered equipment storage areas (when roofed)
Shop yard dividers and defined zones
A single row of blocks along one side creates instant boundaries that won’t blow over in high winds or get knocked aside by equipment.
Practical Tips for Farm Use
Equipment needed: Forklift, telehandler, or excavator (most farms have one). Ask about delivery with truck-mounted crane if needed.
Base: Compacted gravel pad is usually sufficient — poured footings rarely required for farm applications.
Drainage: Always plan drainage behind walls or around structures — Washington’s wet winters can create issues if water pools.
Cost advantage: Ecology blocks are typically far less expensive than poured concrete bunkers or bins, especially when you value the ability to move or reconfigure later.
Washington Ecology Blocks: Supporting Washington Agriculture
We deliver precast ecology blocks to farms and ranches statewide — from the Palouse to the Yakima Valley, Columbia Basin, Puget Sound, and Eastern Washington.
Whether you need a single feed bunker, multiple compost bays, or chemical containment, we can help you plan quantities, layout, and delivery.
Contact us today for current pricing, statewide delivery, and ag-specific project advice.