Farmers' Opportunity
NLC Energy uses dairy manure as its primary feedstock. Manure supplies are sourced from dairy farms in the region near our facility, based in the heart of dairy production in Northeastern Wisconsin.
Farms in the region are identified and evaluated for feasibility of daily manure collection and return, with consideration of herd size, farm location, bedding type, water quality, existing manure handling systems, and current manure management practices on the farm. Sand bedded operations without a sand separation system on the farm are excluded. Since manure must be collected fresh from the barns on a daily basis – year-round, efficient collection systems must be in place or must be added on the farm to intercept the manure before it gets to the primary storage lagoon. In many cases, NLC Energy will invest with the farm to help the transition from sand bedding. Following digestion, the manure is returned to the farm, and, typically, unloaded directly into the farm’s storage lagoon.
From a business perspective, we effectively borrow the farm’s manure for a fee per gallon of manure collected. Once manure has been through the digestion process, it is returned to the farm in amounts equal (gallon for gallon) to that which was collected. The farm is paid for each gallon collected, with the assumption that a modern dairy farm is generating approximately 30 gallons of manure, per cow, per day. Generally, the 30 gallons includes manure, bedding, and wash water from sanitation of the milking systems. In addition to payment for manure, NLC Energy pays for all manure transport, including trucking of the manure from the farm and its subsequent return to the farm. In addition, NLC Energy will make capital improvements on the farm to facilitate manure collection. Capital improvements may include reception tanks, agitators, pumps, fill stand and other necessary infrastructure on the farm to allow for daily collection and return of manure.
Beyond the economic benefits to the farm, other benefits include a significant reduction of odor in the digested manure being returned, substantial pathogen reduction in the digested manure, and return of the same nutrient levels as were found in the fresh, undigested manure. Also, nutrients are more readily available for crops following the digestion process.
If you are interested in learning more, contact us today.
