Michigan State University - Research Groups

In this CNET Green Tech article, Martin LaMonica spotlights the Jordan Dairy Farm, a family-owned, 300 head dairy cow operation that will soon be implementing an anaerobic digester (AD). This system will convert liquid food waste, shipped in from food processing plants, as well as their cow manure into energy. The farm, located in Rutland, Massachusetts, has the opportunity to establish the ideal model for other dairy farmers to earn money and reduce their environmental footprint through the use of anaerobic digestion (LaMonica, 2011). 

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"Channel 13 WHAM reports an early morning barn fire ruined a one-million dollar anaerobic digester, but all employees and 1,500 cattle were spared," (Drovers Cattle Network, 2011). 

The report gives a summary of the incident resulting in the death of two employees at Yankee Springs  Dairy Inc. in July 2010. Included within is a list of citations for alleged safety violations.

A snapshot of anaerobic digester systems operating in 2010 can be found here. 

"The AgSTAR Program has been very successful in encouraging the development and adoption of anaerobic digestion technology. The program was established in 1994, and by the end of 2010 the number of operational digester systems had reached 162 systems across the United States. This growth has produced significant environmental and energy benefits, including in 2010 alone, approximately 453,000 MWh equivalent of energy generation."

Full article can be viewed here on the EPA AgSTAR website.

The Livingston County News reports that a barn fire break out at Noblehurst Farms was caused by some kind of electrical event.

M. Charles Gould, Extension Educator, Michigan State University