When it looked like electricity prices were about to skyrocket in 1985, the Hurst family of Lititz, Pennsylvania, decided to manage that risk by installing an anaerobic digester.

Agricultural equipment manufacturers have risen to meet the needs of today’s growing industry; however, local town and county roads where this equipment travels have not changed. Based on the results of a four-state, four-year study (click here to read Lee's article in the March 21st issue of Progressive Dairyman and more about this study), Kevin Erb, conservation professional development and training coordinator with the University of Wisconsin Extension, has identified a few short-term and long-term solutions. “There are several key steps the farm community and town board can take to minimize damage potential,” Erb says.

According to the U.S. EPA’sAgSTAR program, anaerobic digesters are technically feasible at more than 2,600 U.S. dairy operations, but many early adopters of methane digester systems find they are not supported by the current market conditions and energy policies.

The Garden of Eden was a glorious place. The grass spread like a carpet under Adam and Eve’s feet. They never encountered a thorn or a weed. The fruit and nuts hung from trees in abundance. Adam and Eve only needed to reach up to have their needs met.

I can’t remember exactly how he had gotten here, which may be a testament to how long he was a common sight on the bank near the barn. Since both my mother and aunt taught life sciences at local schools I can only assume that his origin is from a classroom egg incubation experiment.

Dear Editor, The “unrealistic expectation” of making supply management work in this country, sadly, is very divisive because most states east of the Rockies are producing below processor capacity and would be hurt by production cutbacks, unlike California, which is flooded with milk most of the time.

Reporting to you from Eastern Equatoria state, South Sudan, Africa … I am located in Torit, the capital of Eastern Equatoria state, for the third time in three months. I spend nearly every day working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Cooperatives and Rural Development.