When we talk about climate change and greenhouse gases in California, it’s tough to ignore the dairy industry: State data estimate dairies to be responsible for about 3 percent of the state’s annual greenhouse gas emissions – mostly due to burping cows and fermenting manure. Although the industry has already made some reductions to its emissions, a recent state law requires the industry to reduce its methane footprint even further over the next decade.
How will dairies accomplish that goal, and are they on track to meet it? In this interview, FM89’s Kerry Klein speaks with Michael Boccadoro, Executive Director of the industry coalition Dairy Cares, about how dairies in the San Joaquin Valley are embracing emissions-reducing technologies called methane digesters.
