Penn State Extension hosts 2026 Anaerobic Digestion on the Farm Conference

The event featured an impressive array of speakers, including Russell Redding and Kevin Atticks, secretaries of agriculture for Pennsylvania and Maryland, who kicked of the event with inspiring words about the potential for biogas in the region.  A technical tour, panel discussions, research posters, and technical sessions all featured strongly at the event.  All in all, over 45 technical presentations, 4 group discussions, 3 keynote presentations, and 23 research posters covered topics ranging from nutrient impacts to project development to farm safety to economics.  The conference was designed to be a blend of research, farming, technology, and government perspectives, in acknowledgement of the critical role these communities play in making Anaerobic Digestion work.   

The technical tour included visits to two on-farm digesters where the function of the different equipment was explained and demonstrated.  New Holland's methane tractor was on display, which can run on biogas instead of diesel fuel.  Other equipment on display included gas treatment systems from Norit Activated Carbon and electricity generators from Martin Energy of Ephrata.  

Government policy was a big topic at the event as it has played a strong role in influencing the use of digestion on the farm.  Jonathan Harding of the American Biogas Association noted during the policy panel that "project developers need long term reliable frameworks to guarantee returns", while Alex DePillis of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets pointed out the hopeful news that "policy is emerging that is more farm aware".  Katie Zerfuss of the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission shared how recent rulemaking processes allowed for farm digesters to in Pennsylvania to retain their favorable treatment as an electricity generator in the keystone state.  Throughout, the need for awareness, education, and understanding came through as a critical and ongoing need.  

Throughout the conference, farmers shared their expertise on the realities of anaerobic digestion on the farm.  This included Caleb Crothers of Long Green Farm who is just beginning as a digester owner, and ranged to Jim Harbach, one of the pioneers in on-farm digestion who has probably "seen it all" at least twice.  Unexpected costs, regulatory hurdles, and understandable community concerns all were noted as surprises that they have learned to handle as they worked to make their digesters a successful part of their farms.  But they all noted the value that the digesters bring to their farm operations.  Matt Steimann of Dickinson College Farm shared about their unique new digester facility that is a partnership of two adjacent farm operations, designed by conference sponsor Nutrient Control Systems Inc.  

Lisa Schulte-Moore of Iowa State University was one of the technical keynote speakers at the conference.  A Marshall Scholar, she shared the accumulated knowledge of a five year USDA-funded project called "Grass2Gas", that developed new knowledge around the use of grasses directly in a digester to improve economics while benefitting the ecosystem.  The multi-university project team partnered with industry to study a wide range of topics, including the science of grass digestion, performance of digestate on crops and soil, community perceptions of digestion, and the production of high value chemicals from digesters.  Ivan Baadsgard of Grainit was also a keynote speaker -  he shared about some of the successful biogas systems in Denmark, a nation that is notable for its extensive biogas sector that produces 40% of their total needs for natural gas.  He pointed out the importance of keeping focus, controlling quality, and keeping things simple in order to ensure long term success.  Can Denmark's success be replicated here in the United States?  If so, would it look the same, or different?  This question was on many people's minds as the attendees discussed various aspects of the many presentations and sessions a the conference.  

This was the second "AD on the Farm" conference, and it closed on a very positive note, looking to the future changes that are likely for on-farm anaerobic digestion, and anticipating the opportunity perhaps for a third conference in the near future.  

If you're interested interested in learning more about biogas, consider enrolling in the extension online course  Applied Biogas Technology - Converting Organic Waste to Energy.