Renewable Energy

USDA issues 90-day pause on biodigester applications

jenn@agproud.com — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:05:55 -0500

Anaerobic digesters have reshaped the dairy industry, providing a sustainable solution for manure handling and an alternative energy source for U.S. households. For the relatively small portion of those projects that receive funding through the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), that momentum now faces a temporary pause.

Ash Grove Dairy finds stability in renewable natural gas market

jenn@agproud.com — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Sure, carbon markets are volatile. Sure, the market is theoretically best suited for a large dairy farm, even those providing manure into a community digester. But that didn’t stop Michael Crinion of Ash Grove Dairy.

Harnessing the power of anaerobic digesters: Opportunities and challenges for dairy farms

dsa@iastate.edu — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

While recent changes in policy and markets have added uncertainty to the economics of digesters, the technology remains a valuable option for dairies looking to improve sustainability, prepare for a carbon-conscious future and manage manure more effectively.

Producers monetize dairy manure with unique on-farm business models

jenn@agproud.com — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

What opportunities are available to create more value from dairy waste? For three individuals, creating more value lay in what was available to them and the relationships they were willing to build with neighbors and industry stakeholders.

Progressive Events: Midwest Manure Summit highlights unique potential of dairy waste

jenn@agproud.com — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Academia, industry allies and dairy producers each brought unique perspectives for how to best manage dairy waste at the 2025 Midwest Manure Summit Feb. 26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. From anaerobic digesters to in-season applications to fiber bedding and more, manure has gone from a waste to a valuable resource on dairy farms of all sizes, as highlighted during the one-day event.

Tackling a digester project: Tips for dairies

rschrift@mclanahan.com — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

While investing in an anaerobic digester can have many advantages, dairy farmers have much to consider as they embark on these projects. Use the following tips to help ensure your anaerobic digester journey is successful.

Renewable natural gas rises in dairy, boosting profits

ty.rohloff@compeer.com — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

RNG opportunities on farms are becoming more cost-effective, with improved technology and affordability, much like the evolution of color TVs. For those considering RNG, many third-party resources, including attorneys, CPAs, lenders and others experienced in the process, can help evaluate what makes sense for your operation.

Carbon accounting opportunities for any size farm

lauren@eatneutral.com — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

To dairy farmers, carbon credits, or offsets, are best known in association with anaerobic digestion. These projects require big farms with significant amounts of manure and plenty of capital, resulting in credits sold to buyers outside of the dairy or even the food and beverage industries.

Essential considerations for dairy farmers approached by anaerobic digester developers

taylor@avisenlegal.com — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

As a dairy farmer, you are no stranger to innovation and efficiency on the farm. So when approached by developers interested in building an anaerobic digester on your property, it is essential to consider the big picture. Here's what you need to know as you navigate this opportunity.

Hydrogen as a way of profiting from manure

wilson@hagoenergetics.com — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Hydrogen is the new thing. There has been a lot of recent press regarding the potential of hydrogen to remove carbon from the energy equation and lead the way to a more sustainable world.

Strategically choose a project developer and sustainability program fit for your dairy

jenn@agproud.com — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

There are several sustainability programs available for producers to adapt on their farms to receive carbon credits or some other incentive payment in return.

Tap into your team for anaerobic digester project success

rschrift@mclanahan.com — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Whether your objective is sustainability, a new revenue source or odor control, interest in and development of dairy anaerobic digester projects has swelled over the past few years. The upward trend is only expected to increase as dairies seek manure solutions to meet a changing marketplace.

Affordable biomethane production an option for small dairies

joe.boufford@newholland.com — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The push for environmentally sustainable agriculture has sparked a lot of interest in anaerobic digesters that can convert manure into biofuel.

These producers put sustainability to work

jenn@agproud.com — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:48:05 -0400

The buzz around sustainability continues to grow. And while there is an end goal of creating a more viable dairy sector for years to come, reaching that point looks different for every producer.

Is an anaerobic digester right for your dairy?

dsa@iastate.edu — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Anaerobic digestion is seeing increased interest and implementation on many farms throughout the U.S. But what is anaerobic digestion? What do the economic opportunities look like? And, how would it fit on your farm?

Barton explores new opportunities with trust in the industry

jenn@agproud.com — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Evan Barton was a student in Dr. David Galton’s dairy science course at Cornell University when he realized there was the potential for dairy farming in his future.

Evaluating the economic feasibility of co-digesting manure and food waste in northern New York

pew2@cornell.edu — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 17:03:33 -0500

The anaerobic co-digestion of dairy manure and food waste can provide significant methane emission reduction by avoiding emissions from both the long-term slurry storage of raw manure and the landfilling of organics, while additionally producing a renewable fuel that can replace fossil fuel sources.

America’s largest manure digester supports producers’ environmental goals

jenn@agproud.com — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Wiese Brothers Farms is one of 11 dairies working in partnership to provide manure for Wisconsin’s latest anaerobic digester, BC Organics owned and operated by Dynamic Renewables. The Brown County plant, with 16 digesters on site, has the capabilities to process 900,000 gallons of manure daily.

[Podcast] Evan Barton: First-generation dairy farmer and taking advantage of opportunities the industry presents

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Evan Barton of South Fork Dairy Farm in Newark, Ohio. Barton is a first-generation dairy farmer who signed a deal with Clean Energy Fuel to use the manure that his cows produce to create renewable natural gas

4 mistakes owners make with RNG projects

jniekrasz@cleanfuelpartners.com — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 18:52:40 -0400

Digestion of manure is, on paper, a fairly simple process. Similar to how a cow digests food, digesters further break down manure, capture methane, purify the gas and then convert it to pipeline-grade renewable natural gas (RNG).

Dairy producers are carbon farmers, too

karen@agproud.com — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 16:18:19 -0500

Climate change is a global problem. While world leaders and scientists meet to find solutions, U.S. dairy producers are well-poised to play a part in these efforts.

Renewable energy options from biogas

pew2@cornell.edu — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 22:48:58 -0500

Anaerobic digestion of dairy manure and other organic material (e.g., food waste) produces biogas that can be used for renewable energy options.

RNG development opportunities: Considerations before a contract

pew2@cornell.edu — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 22:34:45 -0500

Renewable natural gas (RNG) production from dairy manure is an opportunity for farms to obtain an additional income while also participating in the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG), moving the dairy farm toward sustainability.

Pennsylvania panelists: ‘Can biogas production benefit your farm?’

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 21:06:07 -0400

Penn State University held its first Digester Day at the Snider Agriculture Arena on July 21, 2021. The event was put together by Daniel Ciolkosz and Siobhan Fathel of Penn State Extension, who wanted to provide a place for people interested in anaerobic digestion to connect.

Farmer roundtable addresses success of on-farm digesters

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 21:32:21 -0400

Digesters are gaining popularity among dairy farms for several reasons. Not only do digesters reduce odor of manure and leave less of a residue, but they also help the condition of the soil.

Select the right process technology for your dairy RNG project

pgreene@montrose-env.com — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 13:00:01 -0400

In recent years, dairy farmers have shown an increased ability to enhance farm revenue by installing anaerobic digesters.

Maybe messy at first, manure digesters can pay off

mmhookham@gmail.com — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:36:34 -0500

As dairy farmers look for ways to diversify and add value, many are seeing the benefits of using manure as a revenue source. In its various forms, manure processed in an anaerobic digester can be used on the farm or sold. While it has its unique challenges, it can serve as livestock bedding or be used to produce electricity and natural gas.

Food waste coming on the farm? Consider where the nutrients go and manure processing for nutrient export

pew2@cornell.edu — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 23:18:08 -0500

Public policy is increasingly evolving to reduce or divert waste from limited landfill space. One way to accomplish this is by reducing the many tons of organic waste such as food processing waste, food scraps, and spoiled fruits and vegetables that are landfilled annually.

Methane from manure: An income stream to consider

hibmajl@gmail.com — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 23:40:45 -0500

Manure is a fact of life on the dairy farm. Sooner or later, every dairy is confronted with added costs associated with managing and disposing of manure.

Dairy farmers should take care when considering a methane digester

dturley@milk4texas.org — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 13:00:01 -0400

At Texas Association of Dairymen, I get calls monthly from marketers selling methane digesters. Most of them do not have much merit, and very few of the callers understand the operations of a dairy farm and how a methane digester would become part of the waste-handling process.