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July 22, 2009
by Ivy Allen, Public Affairs Specialist The Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) helped fund and install Montana’s first anaerobic methane
digester for a dairy operation, completed in the spring of 2009. The
project is proving to be a huge success and is currently producing
enough on-farm generated power to run the entire dairy operation and one
home.
The digester is located at the Huls Dairy Farm in Corvallis, Montana.
Huls Dairy Incorporated is a family owned business, operated by 4th and
5th generation farmers, working in the dairy industry since they first
came to the Bitter Root Valley in 1908. The farm sits on 640 acres that
supports 360 milking cows, a calving operation, and feed crops.
The Huls Dairy contacted NRCS in 2002 seeking guidance on waste
management practices. In 2006, NRCS added financial assistance for
anaerobic digestion to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP). The agency’s cost-share for this project, under EQIP, was
approximately $750,000. Additional NRCS funding, roughly $80,000, was
provided through a Conservation Innovation Grant to demonstrate this
technology in Montana.
A NRCS certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) was hired by the
Huls to coordinate the design, installation, and certification of the
digester installation with Andigen, Inc. the owner of the digester
design. The TSP also worked closely with NRCS engineers to incorporate
the digester into the overall waste management system developed by NRCS.
In addition to the digester and generator, the system includes concrete
reception tanks for the manure, a solid-liquid manure separator, solids
stacking pad, a lined liquid waste storage pond, and a gravity pipeline
to transport the liquid manure to Huls irrigated fields. The Huls are
working with NRCS staff from the Hamilton Field Office and Missoula Area
Office on implementing a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan.
The Huls coordination, determination, and continued involvement
guaranteed the project’s success. They supported local businesses,
assuring them the opportunity to bid on construction. Montana companies
built and installed the digester, constructed the buildings, and
completed the concrete, plumbing and electrical work. According to Dan
Huls, “Without the help of NRCS and Northern Rocky Mountain Resources
Conservation and Development it would not have been possible for us to
make this project happen.”
"Energy Conservation on the Farm
at the Huls Dairy" is a new NRCS produced video that features
members of the Huls family and the strong commitment each family member
made. It also demonstrates how the digester works when using methane
gasses to produce energy. The video identifies other on-farm benefits as
a result of this project including cost savings on fuel, electricity,
irrigation, and fertilizer, additional income from commercial
composting, and improved long-term environmental benefits.
"Energy Conservation on the Farm at the Huls Dairy" captures the
pride and commitment shown by the Huls, and partners involved; it
demonstrates the overall success of a project that happens when
partnerships come together. The partnership of agencies that supported
the project include NRCS, Northern Rocky Mountain Resources Conservation
and Development, Montana State University Extension, Ravalli County
Economic Development Authority, Montana Community Development
Corporation, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education, Montana Growth Through Agriculture
Program, and Utah State University.
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The Huls' Bitterroot Valley farm in the winter
The anaerobic methane digesters under construction
The carousel milking table at Huls Dairy
The lined liquid waste storage pond
Construction of the concrete reception tanks for the manure
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