AEM Hosts Lobby Day for Dairy Innovation in Madison

Oct 18, 2024

At the beginning of October, dairy and manure equipment manufacturers from around the world descended into Madison, Wisconsin for the World Dairy Expo. With the dairy industry at state capitol’s doorstep, there was no better time to host a lobby day on the importance of dairy technology.

AEM members and staff met with state lawmakers and their offices to advocate for dairy and manure precision agriculture incentives.  Using data from AEM’s Environmental Benefits of Modern Dairy, Hay, and Forage Production Technologies study, the meetings educated lawmakers on the benefits of precision agriculture technology and discussed a model bill that could help get these technologies into the hands of Wisconsin farmers.  

Earlier this year, AEM members and staff drafted a model bill for Wisconsin that would establish a grant for small and medium dairy farmers in the state. The grant would help ease adoption of new technology and equipment, allowing Wisconsin farmers to increase workforce and environmental efficiencies.  The bill is based on an AEM-supported bill that was passed and enacted in Iowa during the 2023 legislative session.

Click here to see more...

Video: How Can We Grow More Food With Less Impact?

For over two decades, Dr. Mitloehner has been at the forefront of research on how animal agriculture affects our air and our climate. With deep expertise in emissions and volatile organic compounds, his work initially focused on air quality in regions like California’s Central Valley—home to both the nation’s richest agricultural output and some of its poorest air quality.

In recent years, methane has taken center stage in climate discourse—not just scientifically, but politically. Once a topic reserved for technical discussions about manure management and feed efficiency, it has become a flashpoint in debates over sustainability, regulation, and even the legitimacy of livestock farming itself.

Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Professor and Air Quality Specialist with the CLEAR Center sits down with Associate Director for Communications at the CLEAR Center, Joe Proudman.