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.

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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.


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