Funds available in California for dairy digester development

Jan 21, 2015

Grant winners will be announced between May and June 2015

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

The application period is open for interested parties who want to receive funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP).

Around $11 million is being made available through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund with approval from the 2014’s Budget Act to provide financial backing to those who want to install dairy digesters in California with the hopes it can reduce greenhouse gasses (GHG). There will also be $500,000 available for digester research and demonstration initiatives.

What do dairy digesters do?

They use manure from livestock to produce methane, which can be used to produce electricity and, heat buildings, or used as a transportation fuel.

“Digester technology is precisely the kind of innovation that California farmers are known for,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross in a release. “It promotes low carbon fuels, agricultural energy efficiency and other operational advantages. We are very encouraged about the potential of this program.”

Interested applicants must submit their application package by Monday, February 23^rd, 2015, 5:00p.m. PST.

The packages must include a variety of information including a cover page, project narrative, a work plan, summary of costs, greenhouse gas emissions reductions and impacts and benefits on the environment and surrounding communities.

There will be also be information sessions for interested parties.

Wednesday, January 21
University of California Cooperative Extension Tulare County
4437 S. Laspina Street (across from World Ag Expo)
Tulare County Agricultural Building Auditorium
1p.m. – 3p.m.

Tuesday, January 27
Webinar
There’s limited space so anyone interested must reserve their spot
1p.m. – 3p.m.

Wednesday, January 28
California Department of Food and Agriculture
1220 N Street
1p.m. – 3p.m.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.