Farm bill proposal offers manure management alternatives

Legislation introduced in the House and Senate would set up a new voluntary program to help livestock and dairy operations of all sizes reduce their environmental footprint.

The program, intended for inclusion in the next farm bill, would cover most of the cost of equipment and infrastructure “so producers can move to manure handling systems that achieve greater environmental benefits,” according to a fact sheet on the COWS Act – which stands for the Converting Our Waste Sustainably Act. The projects would offer farms alternatives to more costly methane digesters, one advocate says. 

The Senate version is sponsored by Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla of California and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Maine Democrat Chellie Pingree joined two Californians, Democrat Jim Costa and Republican David Valadao, in sponsoring the House version.