Funds available in California for dairy digester development

Jan 21, 2015

Grant winners will be announced between May and June 2015

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

The application period is open for interested parties who want to receive funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP).

Around $11 million is being made available through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund with approval from the 2014’s Budget Act to provide financial backing to those who want to install dairy digesters in California with the hopes it can reduce greenhouse gasses (GHG). There will also be $500,000 available for digester research and demonstration initiatives.

What do dairy digesters do?

They use manure from livestock to produce methane, which can be used to produce electricity and, heat buildings, or used as a transportation fuel.

“Digester technology is precisely the kind of innovation that California farmers are known for,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross in a release. “It promotes low carbon fuels, agricultural energy efficiency and other operational advantages. We are very encouraged about the potential of this program.”

Interested applicants must submit their application package by Monday, February 23^rd, 2015, 5:00p.m. PST.

The packages must include a variety of information including a cover page, project narrative, a work plan, summary of costs, greenhouse gas emissions reductions and impacts and benefits on the environment and surrounding communities.

There will be also be information sessions for interested parties.

Wednesday, January 21
University of California Cooperative Extension Tulare County
4437 S. Laspina Street (across from World Ag Expo)
Tulare County Agricultural Building Auditorium
1p.m. – 3p.m.

Tuesday, January 27
Webinar
There’s limited space so anyone interested must reserve their spot
1p.m. – 3p.m.

Wednesday, January 28
California Department of Food and Agriculture
1220 N Street
1p.m. – 3p.m.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.