Capital Press Agriculture Weekly
 
Company Touts New Manure Technology
Chip Power
Capital Press Staff Writer

FRESNO — A report by a cross-section of dairy experts found four of 44 technologies evaluated for controlling dairy manure pollution in the San Joaquin Valley supplied sufficient evidence that they are effective.

The issue is critically important to the state’s future because, as the report states, “The California dairy industry is facing rapidly increasing state and federal regulation over its role in the pollution of air and water, and there is a critical need to improve the management and treatment of dairy manure to reduce environmental problems, while ensuring the economic viability of this essential agricultural industry.”

The report found that “sufficient data were provided to demonstrate effectiveness of technology” for only four of the 44 technologies presented in time to be evaluated.

Of those four, only the “Microaerobic Biological Waste Treatment Process” developed by Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc., provided peer-reviewed data which demonstrates it can control all forms of releases to water and emissions to air.

Bion said its “microaerobic” process addressed all air and water pollutants.

The multidisciplinary group included dairy industry experts, representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency, various California regulatory agencies, environmental groups, and the University of California. Its 212-page report, “Assessment of Technologies for Management and Treatment of Dairy Manure in California’s San Joaquin Valley,” was based on information submitted by technology companies throughout the United States, and is now available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/ag/caf/dairypnl/dairypanel.htm.

Ammonia emissions, according to the National Academy of Science report, “Air Emissions from Animal Farming Operations” (2) are the No. 1 global, regional and state air pollution problem from livestock. In July 2005, a USDA-funded report titled, “Biomethane from Dairy Waste: A Sourcebook for the Production and Use of Renewable Natural Gas in California,” discussed the environmental challenges associated with making electricity via digester technology.

Bion said its process is eligible for grant funding under the USDA NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Plan. Additionally, it has been approved by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in California, and has preliminary approval from the San Joaquin Unified Air Pollution Control District.

Chip Power is based in Fresno, Calif. His e-mail address is cpower@capitalpress.com.