Thank you for making
the Jer-Lindy Digester Field day
a huge success!
Well over 300 people attended!
Couldn’t attend? Click here for contents of the packet all participants received.
Click here for the presentations given that day.
A special thanks to our sponsors
who helped make the field day possible!
Bogards’ creameries, elrosa Lumber Company, Inc, Feed Co., Land O Lakes, Inc., MBC Drainage, LLC., MN Corn Growers Association, MN Dept. of Agriculture, MN Milk Producers Association, Monsanto Dairy Business, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Stearns Coooperative Electric Association, Stearns County, and Soil and Water Conservation District
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Media Coverage of the Digester Field Day
- “Farmer Uses Methane to Make Electricity” Tim Post, Minnesota Public Radio June 27, 2008
- “Minnesota Farmer turns manure into power” Star Tribune, June 28, 2008
- “Minnesota Farmer Uses manure as power source” InForum Fargo-Moorhead June 28, 2008
- “Cows making milk and electricity” Pioneer Press June 28, 2008
- “Minnesota farmer Turns Manure into Power” The Daily Independent, Ashland Kentucky June 28, 2008
- “Farmers See Profit in Manure” Kirsti Marohn, St. Cloud Times , June 27, 2008
- “Minnesota Digester: Key to cleaner air, stronger economy?” Public News Service, June 27, 2008
Midwest farmers are critical to protecting air and water quality, reducing energy imports and creating jobs by producing renewable energy. The Minnesota Project works with farmers, rural communities and other to ensure the successful transition to farm-based energy. The Minnesota Project works to bring renewable energy projects to farms that:
- Stimulate economic development for farmers and rural communities
- Result in a net benefit to the environment
Methane Digesters: Information and Projects
Methane digesters convert manure or other organic matter into biogas through a process called anaerobic digestion. In this process, bacteria decompose the organic matter in the absence of oxygen, producing a gas composed of 60 to 70 percent methane and 30 to 40 percent carbon dioxide — biogas. The biogas can then be combusted to power an engine generator or used in a modified hot water heater. Farm owners can sell any excess power generation to the grid.
Jennisen Dairy Farm
The Minnesota Project partnered with a variety of state, university, and producer entities to facilitate a pilot project to determine the economic viability of a modified digester design, beyond systems that are already commercially viable, such as a covered lagoon, complete mix, and plug flow on a dairy farm in Minnesota. Jerry and Linda Jennisen operate a dairy of 150 cows.
Case Study: Haubenschild Diary Farm
The Minnesota Project partnered with Haubenschild Dairy Farm to study the effects from the operation of an on-farm anaerobic digester. Final results from a four-year education and evaluation project are now available.
Alternative Generation Options for Methane Digesters
In 2003, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture secured grant funds through the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) from the Natural Resources Trust Fund to investigate the utilization of manure methane technologies through the use of alternative generating options.
New Digester Opportunities-Studying Digester Feasibility for
Mid-sized Dairy Farms
The Minnesota Project is beginning work on the next phase of studying anaerobic digester technology, appropriate digester systems for Minnesota's average dairy farm size. 96% of Minnesota's dairy farms have 200 cows or less. However, current anaerobic digester technologies are only economically feasible for dairy farms that have 300 cows or more. The Minnesota Project is beginning work on studying appropriate digester models for Minnesota's average dairy farm.
Resources & Links
Information from our workshop, and other resources and links. Will a digester work on my farm? What are the benefits and concerns of digesters? What resources are available to help me make a decision?
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