Manure

Penn State University held its first Digester Day at the Snider Agriculture Arena on July 21. 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.

As we continue to improve on-farm efficiencies, it’s important to look at new areas of opportunities. One area needing review is manure management, specifically the process of converting manure solids, separated or not, into safe, high-quality bedding.

Enteric emissions are the greatest contributor to the on-farm carbon footprint of milk.

At 33% of the total U.S. dairy farm greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint, manure is the second greatest contributor of GHG emissions.

In March 2020, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy approved a new set of environmental stewardship goals to further the industry’s commitment to sustainability.

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.