Democrats in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday introduced their version of a bipartisan bill recently proposed by U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) to establish a new manure management program that would improve air quality and implement sustainable farming practices.
“Our farmers are the best stewards of our environment,” Rep. Valadao said earlier this week, “and equipping them with the best available technology is good for the industry and good for the environment.”
Rep. Valadao on June 23 cosponsored the Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023, H.R. 4327, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA). U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and two other Democrats on July 25 introduced the same-named S. 2479 in their chamber.
“I understand firsthand the needs and challenges of our Central Valley dairy producers,” said Rep. Valadao. “We have a methane digester on our dairy and it helps to produce energy while also reducing emissions. I’m proud to support this legislation that would make this same kind of manure management technology more accessible for the livestock industry.”
If enacted, the voluntary program established under the bill would cover a majority of the cost of installing equipment and infrastructure so producers could move to manure-handling systems that achieve greater environmental benefits, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Valadao’s staff.
Some of these transition approaches could include advanced solids separation, scrape systems, composted manure, and compost pack barns, as well as pasture-based strategies or combined approaches, the summary says.
“California is leading the nation in the implementation of alternative manure management systems, helping provide a significant reduction of greenhouse emissions. These sustainable farming practices are improving water quality and reducing costs for farmers,” Rep. Costa said. “My bill would expand access to new technologies and set us on a path to reach our climate goals.”
The National Milk Producers Federation endorsed the bill.