AgSTAR

AgSTAR Stories from the Farm

Stories from the Farm provides a first-hand account of the operations, lessons learned, benefits and challenges associated with anaerobic digestion projects on livestock farms in the United States.


What's On My Farm

The following infographics published in Progressive Dairyman Exit feature details and statistics about anaerobic digesters on farms in the United States. Click on the images to advance the slideshow. Use the accompanying links to view the full-size image from Progressive Dairyman.

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Allen Farms Infographic

Allen Farms
Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Small-scale Digester Yields Energy, Environmental and Educational Benefits

Promotes environmental education, encourages environmentally friendly agriculture in the community, supports reduced energy costs and enhances fertilizer use from the digested material. For more information, read the full Progressive Dairyman story.Exit

Big Sky West Dairy Infographic

Big Sky West Dairy
Gooding, Idaho

3rd-Party Finances, Owns and Operates Anaerobic Digester on Large Dairy Farm

Produces an average of 1,080 kilowatts per hour of electricity, improves the farm’s management of manure and nutrients, and generates revenue for the owner through the sale of electricity, carbon credits and renewable energy certificates. For more information, read the full Progressive Dairyman story.Exit

Central Sands Infographic

Central Sands Dairy
Nekoosa, Wisconsin

Anaerobic Digester Successfully Uses Sand Bedding

Removes 99 percent of sand particles from the manure, which is then delivered to the digester and generates an average of 685 kilowatts of electricity per hour. For more information, read the full Progressive Dairyman story.Exit

Chaput Family Farms Infographic

Chaput Family Farms
North Troy, Vermont

Anaerobic Digester Makes Economic and Environmental Sense

Provides an average of 163 kilowatts per hour of electricity and offers additional revenue possibilities for the farm with minimal maintenance costs. For more information, read the full Progressive Dairyman story.Exit

Dallmann East River Infographic

Dallman East River Dairy, LLC
Brillion, Wisconsin

Efficient Digester Generates Electricity and Commercial-grade Fertilizer

Yields an average of 540 kilowatts per hour of electricity and produces solids for farm bedding, as well as a commercial fertilizer. For more information, read the full Progressive Dairyman story.Exit

Dane County Digester Infographic

Dane County Community Digester
Waunakee, Wisconsin

Community Digester Handles Manure from Three Area Farms

Produces an average of 1.5 megawatts of electricity per hour—enough electricity to power 2,500 homes. For more information, read the full Progressive Dairyman story.Exit

Forest Glen Jerseys Infographic

Forest Glen Jerseys
Dayton, Oregon

Farm Supplies Manure for Anaerobic Digester

Generates 370 kilowatts per hour of electricity—enough to power 300 homes per year, as well as uses digestate to improve pastures and produces bedding material for area farms to purchase. For more information, read the full Progressive Dairyman story.Exit

Kish View Farms Infographic

Kish View Farms
Belleville, Pennsylvania

Gravity Flow Digester Increases Efficiency, Creates Profit and Reduces Odor

Produces electricity generation of up to 120 kilowatts per hour, heats the digester and farm, generates revenue by accepting food waste, yields solid bedding and reduces odor. For more information, read the full Progressive Dairyman story.Exit

Oregon Dairy Farm Infographic

Oregon Dairy Farm LLC
Lititz, Pennsylvania

Farm Expands 25-year-old Anaerobic Digester to Accommodate Larger Size

Yields an average of 110 kilowatts per hour of electricity, provides power for the farm, sells compost to the public and reduces odor. For more information, read the full Progressive Dairyman story.Exit

Straus Dairy Infographic

Straus Dairy
Marshall, California

Simple and Reliable Digester Enhances Dairy Farm’s Sustainability

Improves the farm’s sustainability by generating an average of 80 kilowatts per hour of electricity, which provides power for the farm and its electric vehicles. For more information, read the full Progressive Dairyman story.Exit

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Meet An Operator

Read these testimonials from people who operate anaerobic digesters throughout the United States. Each one highlights first-hand experiences with the benefits and challenges of operating digesters.

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Photo of the anaerobic digester operator, Norman DollDane County Community Digester
Waunakee, Wisconsin
Norman Doll, Chief Operating Officer for Clear Horizons

Anaerobic Digester Type:
Complete Mix

Operating Since:
Late 2010 (filled digesters)

Photo of the anaerobic digester operator, Dennis BrubakerIdeal Family Farms, LLC.               
Beavertown, Pennsylvania
Meet Dennis Burbaker, Member/Partner

Anaerobic Digester Type:
Complete Mix

Operating Since:
July 2011

Photo of the anaerobic digester operators, Steve and Brett ReinfordReinford Farms, Inc.                    
Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
Meet Steve Reinford, Owner

Anaerobic Digester Type:
Complete Mix

Operating Since:
February 2008

Photo of the anaerobic digester operator, Alex RinglerRenergy                                        
Marengo, Ohio
Meet Alex Ringler, CEO

Anaerobic Digester Type:
Complete Mix

Operating Since:
Spring 2013

Photo of the anaerobic digester operators, Billy Storms and Don BrittStorms Farm                               
Blandeboro, North Carolina
Meet Billy Storms, Owner/Operator & Don Britt, Operator

Anaerobic Digester Type:
Farm-Scale; Mixed Plug Flow

Operating Since:
October 2013

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Anaerobic Digestion Ombudsman

An anaerobic digestion ombudsman is a third-party individual that helps livestock facilities develop and maintain anaerobic digester projects. In New York and Vermont, anaerobic digestion ombudsman programs have improved project outcomes and expanded the industry.  In these two states, over 40 anaerobic digestion projects received assistance. To learn more about these programs and how to implement an anaerobic digestion ombudsman program in your state, the following resources can help:

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Project Profiles

Sort and search for:

  1. Short profiles of livestock farm anaerobic digesters in the United States that are tracked in AgSTAR’s project database:
    • Operating systems provide working examples of success
    • Shut down systems offer lessons learned
  2. Other case studies, often highlighting multiple anaerobic digesters
Farm/Project Name State Animal Type Codigestion? Operating Status Document Type
AA Dairy NY Dairy Yes Shut down AgSTAR Profile
AA Dairy NY Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
AA Dairy NY Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
AA Dairy NY Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Apex Pork IL Hog No Operational Case Study
Baldwin Dairy WI Dairy No Operational AgSTAR Profile
Baldwin Dairy WI Dairy No Operational Case Study
Barham Hog Farm NC Hog Yes Operational Case Study
Bernie Faber Dairy (CalGon Dairy) OR Dairy No Operational AgSTAR Profile
Big Sky West Dairy ID Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Blue Spruce Farm, Inc. / Audets Cow Power VT Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Boland Farm IA Hog No Operational Case Study
Brendle’s Egg Farm PA Poultry No Shut down Case StudyExit
Butler Farms NC Hog No Operational AgSTAR Profile
Castelanelli Bros. Dairy CA Dairy No Operational AgSTAR Profile
Cayuga County Digester NY Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Central Sands Dairy WI Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Clover Hill Dairy WI Dairy No Operational Case Study
Clover Hill Dairy, LLC WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
CottonWood Dairy CA Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Crave Brothers Dairy Farm / Clear Horizons LLC WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Crave Brothers Farm WI Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Craven Dairy Farm OR Dairy No Shut down Case Study
Dane County Centralized Manure Digester NC Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Dane County Community Digester WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Danny Kluthe Farm NE Hog No Operational AgSTAR Profile
Deere Ridge Dairy WI Dairy No Unknown Case Study
DeRuyter & Sons Dairy WA Dairy No Operational Case StudyExit
Double S Dairy WI Dairy No Shut down Case Study
Emerald Dairy WI Dairy No Shut down Case Study
Emerling Farm NY Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Emerling Farms NY Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Fair Oaks Dairy IN Dairy No Operational AgSTAR Profile
Farm Power Lynden WA Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Farm Power Rexville WA Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Five Star Dairy WI Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Five Star Dairy Farm WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Foster Brothers Farm VT Dairy No Shut down AgSTAR Profile
FPE Renewables WA Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Freund Dairy CT Dairy No Operational Case Study
Freund Farm CT Dairy No Operational AgSTAR Profile
George DeRuyter & Sons Dairy WA Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Gordondale Farms WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Green Meadow Dairy MI Dairy No Operational Case Study
Green Valley Dairy WI Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Green Valley Dairy WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Haubenschild Dairy Farms MN Dairy No Operational Case StudyExit
Haubenschild Farms MN Dairy No Operational AgSTAR Profile
Hillcrest Dairy (Formerly New Horizons) IL Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Hillcrest Saylors Farm PA Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Holsum Dairy – Elm Road WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Holsum Dairy – Elm Road WI Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Holsum Dairy – Irish Road WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Holsum Dairy – Irish Road WI Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Huckabay Ridge TX Dairy Yes Shut down AgSTAR Profile
Lake Breeze Dairy WI Dairy No Shut down Case Study
Loyd Ray Farms NC Hog No Operational AgSTAR Profile
Loyd Ray Farms NC Hog No Operational Case Study
Loyd Ray Swine Farms NC Hog No Operational Case Study
Martin Family Farm VA Hog No Shut down Case Study
Mason Dixon Farms PA Dairy No Operational AgSTAR Profile
Michigan State University MI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
New Hope View Dairy NY Dairy Yes Shut down Case Study
New Hope View Farm NY Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Noblehurst Dairy Farms NY Dairy No Operational Case StudyExit
Noblehurst Farm NY Dairy No Operational Case Study
Norm-E-Lane WI Dairy No Operational Case Study
Norswiss Farms WI Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Norswiss Farms WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Oregon Dairy Farm PA Dairy No Operational Case StudyExit
Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy WI Dairy No Operational Case Study
Patterson Farm NY Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Patterson Farms NY Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Patterson Farms Dairy NY Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Penn England Farm PA Dairy No Operational Case StudyExit
Pine Hurst Acres PA Hog No Operational Case StudyExit
Qualco Energy WA Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Quantum Dairy WI Dairy No Operational Case Study
quasar energy group - Wooster OH Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Reinford Farms PA Dairy No Operational Case StudyExit
Ridgeline Dairy NY Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Ridgeline Dairy Farm NY Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Ridgeline Farm NY Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Ringler Energy, LLC Swine Farm OH Hog Yes Operational Case Study
Ringler Farm OH Hog Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Scenic View Dairy - Fennville MI Dairy No Operational Case StudyExit
Scenic View Dairy - Fennville MI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Schrack Farms PA Dairy No Operational Case StudyExit
Statz Brothers, Inc. WI Dairy No Operational Case Study
Sunny Knoll Farm NY Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Sunny Knoll Farm NY Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Sunrise Dairy WI Dairy No Operational Case Study
Sunrise Dairy (formerly Suring Community Dairy) WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
SUNY at Morrisville Dairy NY     Operational Case StudyExit
Synergy Dairy - Covington NY     Operational Case StudyExit
Tolenaar Holsteins Dairy CA Dairy No Operational AgSTAR Profile
Twin Birch Dairy NY Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Van Dyk-S Holsteins WA Dairy Yes Operational Case StudyExit
Vander Haak Dairy WA Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Vir-Clar Farm WI Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Vir-Clar Farms WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Volbeda Dairy OR Dairy   Unknown Feasibility StudyExit
Volm Farms WI Dairy No Operational Case Study
Washington State University Research Project WA Multiple Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile
Wild Rose Dairy WI Dairy Yes Operational Case Study
Wild Rose Dairy WI Dairy Yes Operational AgSTAR Profile

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Views from the Farm: Biogas Recovery System Photographs


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