Dairy cow’s at Barstow’s Longview Farm, one of the early farms to integrate a digester with Vanguard Renewables.

The Smithsonian Magazine: Manure Into Money

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David Degner

Photographer based in Boston, MA & New York City

Hadley, Massachusetts - January 12: Steve Barstow shovels manure into the path of a machine that will push it into a chute on its way to the digesters on January 12, 2023 in Hadley, Massachusetts. Barstow’s Longview Farm was one of the early farms to integrate a digester with Vanguard Renewables. (Photo by David Degner). Hadley United States

West Salisbury, Vermont - December 22: Four digesters ballon with methane on December 22, 2022 in West Salisbury, Vermont. The Goodrich Farm Digester turns food waste and cow manure into methane-powered electricity and fertilizer. (Photo by David Degner). West Salisbury United States

Hadley, Massachusetts - January 12: A milk truck fills up, while the large blue tank behind holds fertilizer that is produced by the digester on January 12, 2023 in Hadley, Massachusetts. Barstow’s Longview Farm was one of the early farms to integrate a digester with Vanguard Renewables. (Photo by David Degner). Hadley United States

West Salisbury, Vermont - December 22: Even though it is below freezing outside, inside beside the digesters is warm moist smell somewhere between compost and yogurt on December 22, 2022, in West Salisbury, Vermont. The pipes control the flow of hydrolyzed waste, cow manure, and additives in while other pipes take out the methane and waste which will be spread on fields for fertilizer. (Photo by David Degner). West Salisbury United States

John Hanselman, Founder, and Chief Strategy Officer, on December 22, 2022 in West Salisbury, Vermont.

David Barstow, part of the sixth generation of dairy farmers on January 12, 2023 in Hadley, Massachusetts. Barstow’s Longview Farm was one of the early farms to integrate a digester with Vanguard Renewables.

Manure gathers in the lowest part of the barn floor and is pushed towards a chute.

West Salisbury, Vermont - December 22: A load of waste material from a milk company is poured into the hydrolyzer, the first step in the digestion process, on December 22, 2022 in West Salisbury, Vermont. The Goodrich Farm Digester turns food waste and cow manure into methane-powered electricity and fertilizer. (Photo by David Degner). West Salisbury United States

Agawam, Massachusetts - January 12: Food waste is dumped at the processing facility on January 12, 2023 in Agawam, Massachusetts. The organics recycling facility processes food waste, often removing it from consumer packaging so it can be sent to a digester. (Photo by David Degner). Agawam United States

Agawam, Massachusetts - January 12: Food waste is sent through machines that separate it from packaging and turns it into a slurry on January 12, 2023 in Agawam, Massachusetts. The machines need regular monitoring and adjustment because the waste can come as liquid or dry in different sizes and packaging. (Photo by David Degner). Agawam United States

Safety gear hangs beside the manure separator. The manure separator processes the manure directly out of the cow barns into a liquid for the digesters and natural bedding that can go back into the barns.

How Dairy Farmers Are Turning Manure Into Money
These New Englanders have found a way to help the planet and convert more than 9,000 tons of cow waste annually into electricity
Smithsonianmag.com