Placement of Anaerobic Digester in West Central Wisconsin

Abstract

The transport of manure has long been an issue for Wisconsin dairy farmers. Farmers are contending with conflicting policies over the amount of manure that is held on their farms and the amount of manure that is able to be trucked elsewhere. It is difficult for farmers to move large amounts of manure due to weight restrictions for trucks traveling on Wisconsin roads for certain times of the year. As a probable solution to combat these common issues facing dairy farmers, a communal methane digester could be strategically placed to cut back on hauling distances and avoid weight restrictions. Digesters are also a green energy alternative and could potentially provide some economic benefits for all farmers involved along with local communities. This research explores the best placement for a communal digester in a small study area outside of Marshfield, Wisconsin as well as a larger study area in West Central Wisconsin.