S4E26: "Advancing Sustainable Dairy: Methane Reduction Programs for Farmers" | Paul Sousa - a podcast by WUD

S4E26: "Advancing Sustainable Dairy: Methane Reduction Programs for Farmers" | Paul Sousa

Summary:

In this podcast episode of "Seen and Herd," Allison Tristao interviews Paul Sousa, Director of Environmental Services at Western United Dairies. They discuss different methane reduction programs and how they benefit dairy farmers. 

California has legislation, SB 1383, which aims to reduce short-lived climate pollutants like methane. The dairy industry has made significant progress in meeting the goals set by this legislation through programs such as the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMP), the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program, and the Dairy Plus program.

The AMP provides funding to implement practices that keep manure out of lagoons, such as pasture management, compost bedded pack barns, solid separation, and conversion from flush to scrape systems. The Dairy Digester Program supports the construction of digesters to capture methane for renewable energy production. The new addition, the Dairy Plus program, focuses not only on methane reduction but also on improving water quality through advanced manure management technologies.

The funding for these programs comes from various sources, including the USDA Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities Program, with $85 million allocated to dairy farmers over three years. Dairies interested in applying for these programs can visit the website of the California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF) and the Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation for more information and the application process. Technical service providers are available to assist with the application process.

Paul advises dairy farmers to determine the specific program and improvements they are interested in, obtain bids and designs from contractors, and start the application process as soon as possible. The deadline for applications is August 28. 

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>> For questions about this episode, please contact Paul at paul@wudairies.com or Allison at allison@wudairies.com 

>> To learn more about Western United Dairies, visit wudairies.com.

>> Click Here to become a member!

Flood Resources:

>> Flood Resources, including Tulare County reporting forms, are available on our website at https://westernuniteddairies.com/flood-resources/. 

>> Read this article to learn more about the flooding in the South Valley: https://agnetwest.com/floodwaters-create-situational-crisis-for-california-dairy-farmers/ 

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