Digesters bolster bottom lines!

They make big money, how much does the farm get?

A few years ago, milk prices were bad, grants hard to get, and prices for renewable energy low. As a result, many digester projects did not seem affordable. Then in 2022, things changed with billions of dollars directed to USDA for greenhouse gas mitigation – making a biodigester more affordable. Today, some benefits from the IRA have lapsed but there is optimism incentives will return in the future.

In the meantime, Agricultural Digesters LLC is focused on the farmer/partner business model where both farmer and investor profit substantially. We have built our success on:

• Economies of scale with multiple digesters using same suppliers.
• Establishing multiple revenue streams beyond the sale of energy.

Adjusting to the times, we are bringing in investor partners, while still delivering significant benefits to the farm hosting the project.

In our vision farmers will collect the significant profits needed to ensure long term financial viability.

How do I maximize benefits?

Work with experienced professionals.

Unlike wind and solar energy, biogas systems (anaerobic digesters) have lots of “moving parts” and potential revenue streams based on circumstance. Since farmers want to farm, Agricultural Digesters handles all development steps through launch. Including:

1. Calculating economic feasibility over 20 years.
2. Identifying all revenue streams available including energy sales, environmental incentives, bedding and heat offsets and compost sales.
3. Knowing available grants and completing applications that score well.
4. Obtaining electrical interconnections or upgrading biogas (RNG).
5. Identifying and obtaining organic feedstocks to increase output.
6. Finding investment, in part by leveraging tax credits.
7. Handling the challenging permitting process.
8. Operational guidance and equipment servicing post launch.

A manure separator can process digestate from the anaerobic digester at a dairy farm. Odor and pathogen free, the solid fraction provides free, superior, animal bedding – offsetting tens of thousands of dollars annually. The liquid fraction is more easily spread on fields, especially via draglining  and is more “plant available”.

How valuable is biogas energy?

Going off grid and producing renewable natural gas – RNG.

If your state pays little for renewable electricity you can go off grid, powering all your farm structures, and replacing that growing electric bill. You can also utilize heat from your generator set (CHP) in your work areas and develop other revenue streams such as a greenhouse.

Another option for larger farms located near pipelines is to upgrade their biogas to “pipeline quality” renewable natural gas (RNG) and inject it. Costs are higher but so are profits.

​

Biodigester in USA for 1,400 cows. Above ground, complete mix, German designed, system for the anaerobic digestion of food waist and cow manure.

Will my farm smell better?

85% to 90% odor reduction improves real estate prices, reduces neighbor complaints and improves quality of life for all.

Studies suggest a digester reduces manure odors 85%-90%. This means higher surrounding property values as well as fewer legal complaints from area homes and businesses.

At one Vermont farm, an elementary school is located less than 100 yards from its manure pit. When launched, the methane digester under contract will eliminate this distraction to students. “Future farmers” will see first hand not only the economic benefits of biogas energy, but also the importance of dairies being good stewards of the environment.

Meeting for southern New England farmers Jim Muir organized that included the Connecticut EPA, a generator provider and representatives of five interested dairy farms. They heard from Jedd Moncavage of Team AG (far right) who traveled from Lancaster County, PA to share his experience with digested manure solids at the ten dairy farms he services. Here is a link to a page with Jedd in Pennsylvania sharing this with a visiting group from China. Today three of these have an operating digester, one has a large RNG digester under development and the fifth plans to truck their manure to that farm.

I’ve heard of farmers up at 3 am fixing their digesters. Are there problems?

Challenges occur when a digester is fed different organics from various sources, in varying amounts, at different times. This does not happen to the farmer who uses consistent slurry waste from his own farm – for example, manure. Another sure way to limit operational supervision time is to co-digest a small percentage of the same off-farm substrate, such as brewery waste, in consistent quantities, on a regular basis.

This is not to say co-digesting multiple feedstocks is a bad idea. Such a system near a population center attracts tipping fees from food waste haulers and can be more profitable than a “manure only” digester.