Dairy Stream podcast: Dairy farmers turn manure into renewable energy

Dairy farmers are quickly coming to understand the value of manure and digesters. What was once considered a dairy cow byproduct is now viewed as an opportunity to generate revenue through renewable energy and to focus on sustainability.

Brian Dolski, chief financial officer at Pagel Family Businesses in northeastern Wisconsin, and Greg Steele, senior dairy lending specialist at Compeer Financial, discussed the business structure, challenges and economics of renewable natural gas (RNG) projects on a recent episode of the Dairy Stream podcast.

Compeer Financial sponsored this episode.

Listen here.

Podcast breakdown:

• 2:12: Evolution of digesters
• 4:59: Key players needed to start an RNG project
• 8:41: Common challenges
• 12:29: Nutrient management opportunities
• 18:34: How location and size of farm affects costs
• 22:30: How to structure a profitable deal
• 25:12: Where money can be made with a digester

Tweet about this:

#Dairy Stream podcast features how manure is becoming more profitable for dairy farmers as renewable energy and sustainable farming practice. https://bit.ly/39qZ67J

Images:

Dairy Stream logo

Greg Steele photo

Brian Dolski photo

Embed on website:

<iframe title=”Renewable natural gas projects: Understanding the basics and economics” allowtransparency=”true” height=”150″ width=”100%” style=”border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);” scrolling=”no” data-name=”pb-iframe-player” src=”https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=7jbpg-10158ef-pb&from=embed&share=1&download=1&skin=1&btn-skin=3&size=150″></iframe>

About Dairy Stream:

Dairy Stream focuses on policy, sustainability, market trends, new technology, processor updates, business partner news and farmer involvement. The podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Dairy Stream is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, PodBean, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

About DBA:

The Dairy Business Association is Wisconsin’s leading dairy lobby group, championing smart and sensible regulations affecting the dairy community. The nonprofit organization is comprised of farmers, milk processors, vendors and other business partners who work collaboratively to ensure that dairy farms of all sizes have the support they need to keep America’s Dairyland strong. More information: www.dairyforward.com

About Edge:

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative provides dairy farmers throughout the Midwest with a powerful voice — the voice of milk — in Congress, with customers and within their communities. Edge, based in Green Bay, Wis., is one of the top cooperatives in the country based on milk volume. More information: www.voiceofmilk.com.