Wisconsin Dairy Farm Turns Manure into Renewable Energy

Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese is using cattle waste to help power its dairy operation and cheese production.

WATERLOO, Wis. (RFD News) — One Wisconsin dairy family is turning cattle manure into a source of renewable energy on its operation.

Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, a family-owned dairy and cheese operation founded by four brothers, is known for producing specialty cheeses using milk piped directly from its own dairy cows.

As electricity costs climbed above $6,000 a month, the family farm began looking for another solution for power. Now, the farm converts cattle waste into green energy using a methane digester. Manure produced by cows is fermented with enzymes, releasing methane that fuels engines used to generate electricity.

The energy helps support farm operations and cheese production while reducing waste on the dairy.

By turning manure into energy, the Crave family says the system is helping create a more sustainable future for agriculture.

Related Stories
E15 policy could shape future corn demand outlook.
Governor Jim Pillen joined us to share the latest on the Nebraska wildfires, discuss relief efforts, and outline considerations for producers navigating the ongoing situation.
Regulatory changes may influence farm costs and operations.
Biofuel policy decisions may influence planting economics. Today, March 18, is also National Biodiesel Day.
Nebraska’s largest wildfire on-record has burned 650,000 acres, with three other major fires also burning across the state, destroying pastureland and threatening cattle.
Farm Legal expert Roger McEowen discusses new dicamba regulations, compliance requirements for growers, and the evolving outlook for herbicide use.

Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

One student is working to help farmers protect livestock and property.
Young anglers learn skills on the water while building a deeper connection to the outdoors.
The fifth-generation operation is managing land and cattle with a long-term focus.
Officials say the virus is not a food safety risk and does not affect humans
Beef is leading the decline as slaughter drops and supplies tighten.
Their operation has grown into a featured stop on the state’s farm trail.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.