Researchers Turn Idaho Dairy Manure into Profits, Protect Waterways

Aug 13, 2025

By Lori Tyler Gula

The Idaho Sustainable Agriculture Initiative for Dairy, or ISAID, has spent five years developing and testing systems that capture valuable nutrients and byproducts from manure and wastewater. The research was funded in 2020 by a $10 million Sustainable Agriculture Systems Coordinated Agriculture Project.

Idaho, the nation's third-largest dairy producer, has undergone a remarkable transformation, surpassing its 11th position just 25 years ago. However, this exponential growth comes with challenges, particularly in managing the substantial amounts of liquid and solid manure generated by the dairy industry.

As a result, a team of scientists led by the University of Idaho has undertaken a groundbreaking plan to harness nitrogen and phosphorus from dairy production, converting them into valuable bioproducts. These products can be transported and used in other areas for crop production or as raw materials for value-added products like bioplastics.

Source : usda.gov

Video: CEOs of the Industry: Dr. Jay Miller, The Maschhoffs

CEOs of the Industry, we sit down with Dr. Jay Miller, CEO of The Maschhoffs, to explore his remarkable journey from veterinary consultant to executive leader at one of America’s largest family-owned pork production companies.

Dr. Miller shares how his outside-in perspective shaped his leadership approach, what it was like transitioning from advisor to CEO, and how he’s balancing the company’s proud multigenerational legacy with the need for transformation and innovation.

We dig into tough topics like navigating company contraction, reshaping culture for performance, and the critical role veterinary expertise plays at the executive level. Dr. Miller opens up about building a sustainable, modern pork business—not just environmentally, but operationally and culturally—and what it takes to attract and develop the next generation of talent in agriculture.

Looking ahead, he shares his five-year vision for The Maschhoffs and gives us a personal peek in the Fast Five round, where he reveals leadership insights, the best advice he’s received, and the three words that define The Maschhoffs in 2025.