Kreider Farms, one of Pennsylvania’s largest dairy farms, announced the groundbreaking of a multi-million dollar livestock waste treatment system as part of a joint venture with Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc.

Located at Kreider’s Farm in Manheim, Pa., the Cleantech facility is the first of its kind in the state and is designed to treat and recycle manure from the Farms’ 2,000 dairy cows in an eco-friendly manner.

Bion has spent more than 20 years, including the installation of 30 of its first generation systems through 2003, to develop its second generation technology platform that greatly reduces the environmental impacts of livestock waste. Bion’s Nutrient Management Facility at Kreider Farms will largely eliminate the production, dispersal and re-deposition of ammonia (nitrogen) to stormwater runoff pathways; runoff of excess nitrogen and phosphorus into ground- and surface-water pathways; greenhouse gas, other air pollutant and odor production; as well as pathogens, antibiotics, hormones, pesticides and herbicides.

Based on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approved credit certification methodology, Bion anticipates it will generate approximately 130,000 nitrogen credits (along with 16,250 phosphorus credits) for nutrient reductions at the Kreider Farm, subject to actual measured results consistent with the final approved credit verification plan.

The verified credits can then be sold to offset the discharges of regulated nitrogen sources that face much higher remediation costs, such as municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Susquehanna River watershed that face mandatory reductions under the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy.

—From Kreider Farms and Bion news releases