A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Javascript is required to use this website.

Topical

Small biodigester fuels research

Caitlin Hayes Cornell Chronicle
Jun 25, 2026
Jun 25, 2026

1 of 3

From left, Daryl Nydam, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses potential uses of the biodigester with Lauren Ray, senior Extension associate and agricultural sustainability and energy engineer for PRO-DAIRY, at the College of Veterinary Medicine's Teaching Dairy.

Contributed

With the energy generated, the biodigester will help dry sand from the cows’ bedding for reuse.

Contributed

Prefer us on Google

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Caitlin Hayes Cornell Chronicle

As biodigesters go, Cornell University’s new unit will be small -- two 10,000-gallon tanks on a concrete pad that might not be much to look at. But that little system, which will transform food scraps and cow manure into energy, will have an impact far beyond its footprint.

kAm“%9:D :D DF49 2 8C62E @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C C6D62C49[ 65F42E:@? 2?5 6IE6?D:@?[” D2:5 {2FC6? #2J[ D6?:@C 6IE6?D:@? 2DD@4:2E6 2?5 28C:4F=EFC2= DFDE2:?23:=:EJ 2?5 6?6C8J 6?8:?66C 7@C !#~\spx#*[ :? E96 r@==686 @7 p8C:4F=EFC6 2?5 {:76 $4:6?46D] “xE 92D E9:D 6=6>6?E @7 AC24E:42=:EJ 3642FD6 :E C62==J H:== DFAA=J 6?6C8J E@ E96 F?:G6CD:EJ[ 3FE 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6 :E’D 2 A=2E7@C> 7@C =62C?:?8 2?5 6G6? A=2J:?8[ 2D H6== 2D AC@G:5:?8 92?5D\@? 56>@?DEC2E:@?D 7@C 72C>6CD 2?5 DEF56?ED]”k^Am

kAm%96 5:86DE6C :D @?6 @7 E96 ?6H6DE 255:E:@?D E@ r@C?6==’D {:G:?8 {23 \\ 2 =@?8\DE2?5:?8 2AAC@249 E92E FD6D 42>AFD @A6C2E:@?D E@ C6D62C49 2?5 25G2?46 DFDE2:?23:=:EJ] xE H:== 36 :?DE2==65 E9:D DF>>6C 2E E96 r@C?6== r@==686 @7 '6E6C:?2CJ |65:4:?6’D %6249:?8 s2:CJ[ H96C6 :E H:== E2<6 :? 2 A@CE:@? @7 >2?FC6 7C@> E96 `g_\4@H 96C5[ 2D H6== 2D 7@@5 D6CG:46 D4C2AD 2?5 3JAC@5F4ED 7C@> 42>AFD] |:4C@36D :? E96 D62=65 E2?<D H:== 2?26C@3:42==J 4@?G6CE E96 @C82?:4 H2DE6 :?E@ 3:@82D[ 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 >6E92?6 2?5 42C3@? 5:@I:56[ 2?5 ?FEC:6?E\C:49 =:BF:5 5:86DE2E6] %96 3:@82D H:== AC@G:56 6?6C8J E@ E96 52:CJ – @77D6EE:?8 7@DD:= 7F6= FD6 – 2?5 3@E9 E96 82D 2?5 5:86DE2E6 H:== AC@G:56 C2H >2E6C:2=D 7@C r@C?6== &?:G6CD:EJ C6D62C496CD H9@ DEF5J 4FEE:?8\6586 AC@46DD6D 7@C 42C3@? 42AEFC6 @C E96 4@?G6CD:@? @7 H2DE6 DEC62>D E@ 3:@7F6=D]k^Am

kAmy6776CD@? %6DE6C[ E96 rC@== $6DBF:46?E6??:2= u6==@H 2?5 !C@76DD@C :? r@C?6== sF77:6=5 r@==686 @7 t?8:?66C:?8[ H9@ DEF5:6D E96 4@?G6CD:@? @7 H2DE6 E@ FD67F= AC@5F4ED[ D2:5[ “(92E6G6C H6 5@ @? 2 =23@C2E@CJ\ @C 36?49\D42=6[ E@ EC2?D=2E6 :E E@ C62=\=:76[ J@F H2?E E@ G2=:52E6 :E :? E96 7:6=5] xE’D G6CJ 92C5 E@ 5@ E92E @? 2 3:8 72C> H:E9 2 9F86 5:86DE6C] %96 36DE H2J E@ 86E E92E 52E2 :D E@ 92G6 2? @A6C2E:?8 6IA6C:>6?E =:<6 H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 @? 42>AFD]”k^Am

kAmuF?565 :? A2CE 3J E96 }6H *@C< $E2E6 t?6C8J #6D62C49 2?5 s6G6=@A>6?E pFE9@C:EJ[ E96 3:@5:86DE6C H:== 2=D@ 7:== 2 82A 7@C E96 DE2E6’D D>2==6C 52:CJ 72C>D[ 3J AC@G:5:?8 2 AC@@7\@7\4@?46AE 7@C D>2==6C\D42=6 DJDE6>D]k^Am

kAms2CJ= }J52>[ AC@76DD@C @7 52:CJ 962=E9 2?5 AC@5F4E:@? :? E96 56A2CE>6?E @7 AF3=:4 2?5 64@DJDE6> 962=E9[ D2:5[ “~FC =:G:?8 =23 6IE6?5D E@ A2CE?6C 72C>D 2== 24C@DD }6H *@C< DE2E6] u@C FD E@ 92G6 E9:D A:646 @? 42>AFD E92E 2==@HD FD E@ :?E6C24E 36EE6C H:E9 E96 3C@256C =:G:?8 =23 :D C62==J :>A@CE2?E]”k^Am

kAm|2?J =2C86 52:CJ 72C>D :? }6H *@C< 2?5 36J@?5 92G6 366? FD:?8 2?5 36?67:E:?8 7C@> 2?26C@3:4 5:86DE6CD 7@C 564256D] pE E96 =2C86C D42=6 – 72C>D H:E9 >@C6 E92? d__ 4@HD – 5:86DE6CD 42? 86?6C2E6 EH:46 2D >F49 6=64EC:4:EJ E92? 2 72C> FD6D[ 2?5 E96 6I46DD A@H6C 42? 36 D@=5 2?5 492??6=65 324< E@ E96 8C:5] %96 3:@82D 42? 6G6? 36 C67:?65[ A:A65 2?5 D@=5 :?E@ 6I:DE:?8 C6?6H23=6 ?2EFC2= 82D =:?6D] %92E 25565 C6G6?F6 :D :? 255:E:@? E@ AC24E:42= 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 36?67:EDj H:E9@FE 2 3:@5:86DE6C[ >2?FC6 :D 86?6C2==J DE@C65 :? D>6==J 6IA@D65 A:ED @? E96 72C>[ C6=62D:?8 >6E92?6[ ad E@ b_ E:>6D >@C6 A@E6?E E92? 42C3@? 5:@I:56[ :?E@ E96 2E>@DA96C6]k^Am

kAmqFE 7@C D>2==6C 72C>D[ E96 64@?@>:4D @7 :?DE2==:?8 2 5:86DE6C 92G6?’E J6E >256 D6?D6] x? a_`h[ E96 }6H *@C< $E2E6 t?6C8J #6D62C49 2?5 s6G6=@A>6?E pFE9@C:EJ 2H2C565 }6H *@C< r:EJ\32D65 ?@?AC@7:E t?6C8J ':D:@? 7F?5D E@ 4@?5F4E 762D:3:=:EJ DEF5:6D 7@C D>2==6C\D42=6 DJDE6>D]k^Am

kAm#2J D2:5[ “$@ E96 7@4FD 3642>6 \\ w@H 42? H6 D42=6 E96D6 5@H? D@ >@C6 72C>D 42? A2CE:4:A2E6n t?6C8J ':D:@? H2D =@@<:?8 7@C 2 56>@?DEC2E:@? D:E6[ 3FE :E’D G6CJ 92C5 E@ 5@ E9:D <:?5 @7 DEF5J @? 2? @A6C2E:?8 72C>] w2G:?8 :E 2E r@C?6== 2?5 :?E68C2E65 H:E9 E96 %6249:?8 s2:CJ @? 42>AFD :D C62==J 2 A6C764E D:EF2E:@?]”k^Am

kAmx?E6C6DE 2?5 :?G6DE>6?E :? E96 5:86DE6C :>>65:2E6=J 4C@AA65 FA 2C@F?5 42>AFD[ AC@>AE:?8 4C@DD\42>AFD 4@==23@C2E:@? 2?5 4@@C5:?2E:@? 36EH66? C6D62C496CD[ DE277 2?5 6IE6?D:@? 2DD@4:2E6D] uF?5:?8 2?5 AC@;64E >2?286>6?E 42>6 7C@> E96 r@C?6== pE<:?D@? r6?E6C 7@C $FDE2:?23:=:EJ[ H9:49 7C@> E96 @FED6E 324<65 4@?46AE H@C<[ 3C@F89E F?:G6CD:EJ A2CE?6CD E@86E96C 2?5 2=:8?65 DE2<69@=56CD E@ 96=A 25G2?46 E96 AC@;64E]k^Am

kAmt?6C8J 7C@> E96 3:@5:86DE6C H:== 36 FD65 E@ 5CJ C64J4=65 D2?5 7C@> E96 4@H 3655:?8 2?5 E@ 962E 5@>6DE:4 9@E H2E6C 2E E96 %6249:?8 s2:CJ] xE H:== 2=D@ 36EE6C AC6A2C6 G6E6C:?2CJ DEF56?ED 7@C E96:C H@C< @? 72C>D[ }J52> D2:5]k^Am

kAm}J52> D2:5[ “(6 H2?E E@ 36 23=6 E@ <66A FA 2?5 D9@H @FC DEF56?ED H92E’D 8@:?8 @? @FE :? E96 H@C=5[ 2D H6== 2D A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 C6D62C49 E@ :?7@C> AC@8C6DD]Qk^Am

kAm~? E96 6IE6?D:@? D:56[ #2J 2?5 @E96CD H:== EC24< E96 D>2==6C DJDE6>’D A6C7@C>2?46[ EH62<:?8 @A6C2E:@?D E@ E6DE E96 64@?@>:4 G:23:=:EJ 7@C D>2==6C 72C>D] p55:?8 7@@5 D4C2AD :D @7 A2CE:4F=2C :?E6C6DE[ 6DA64:2==J D:?46 }6H *@C< DE2E6[ :? a_aa[ 3682? C6BF:C:?8 C6DE2FC2?ED[ 8C@46CJ DE@C6D 2?5 :?DE:EFE:@?D E92E 86?6C2E6 >@C6 E92? EH@ E@?D @7 7@@5 H2DE6 A6C H66< E@ 5@?2E6 @C C64J4=6 :E] %92E =2H H:== 2AA=J E@ E9@D6 86?6C2E:?8 >@C6 E92? ;FDE @?6 E@? A6C H66< 368:??:?8 :? a_af]k^Am

People are also reading…

Trail King: Transport solutions for every trailer owner
Five rules for leadership
Champion hog showman shares secrets to success
Heavier carcasses unlock value for group of ranchers
Fall Festival in renovated barn brings community together
Producer plans store to advocate for agriculture
The PCV2 landscape has changed. Is your protection keeping up?
Choose Iowa event doubles participants
Biggest dairy farm leans on tech
United States sees record canola acreage in 2026
Ag programs ask ‘What are your career goals?’
South Dakota Pork pushes for Prop 12 reform in D.C.
FFA greenhouse blesses Lutheran High Northeast
Forest fires in southwest Montana impact ranchers
Short corn hybrids provide advantages

kAm“x7 J@F =@@< 2E }6H *@C< r:EJ[ E96 62DE6C? 4@CC:5@C[ E96 2>@F?E @7 7@@5 H2DE6 :D 4C2KJ[” #2J D2:5] “p?5 E96C6 92G6 E@ 36 8@@5 DJDE6>D :? A=246 E@ C64J4=6 6G6CJE9:?8 :?E@ 6?6C8J 2?5 ?FEC:6?ED[ H9:49 J@F 42? 5@ H:E9 E96 5:86DE6C]”k^Am

kAm%96 DJDE6> @? 42>AFD H:== 2=D@ 36 AF3=:4=J 2446DD:3=6 7@C EC2:?:?8D]k^Am

kAm“%9:D :D 2 8C62E @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 92G6 E92E 92?5D\@? :?E6C24E:@? H:E9 72C>6CD[ 56G6=@A6CD[ 56D:8? 6?8:?66CD[ 7:?2?4:6CD[ 2== @7 E92E[” #2J D2:5] “%96C6’D 2 =@E @7 A@E6?E:2=]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m#6D62C49 @? C62= DJDE6>Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 82D AC@5F465 3J 2?26C@3:4 5:86DE6CD :D ?62C=J 6BF2= A2CED 42C3@? 5:@I:56 2?5 >6E92?6[ 3FE :E’D 42AEFC65 C2E96C E92? C6=62D65] #6D62C496CD 24C@DD 42>AFD H:== :?G6DE:82E6 9@H E@ EC2?D7@C> E92E DE@C65 82D[ 2D H6== 2D E96 =:BF:5 5:86DE2E6[ :? :??@G2E:G6 H2JD]k^Am

kAm%6DE6C’D 8C@FA H:== 7FCE96C H@C< E@ DEC62>=:?6 E96 4@?G6CD:@? @7 E96 42C3@? 5:@I:56 E@ 255:E:@?2= >6E92?6 6?6C8J[ H9:49 4@F=5 C@F89=J 5@F3=6 72C>6CD’ AC@7:ED] %6DE6C :D 2=D@ 6IA=@C:?8 E96 FD6 @7 5:86DE2E6 E@ AC@5F46 3:@\@:= 2?5 3:@492C[ 2?5 E@ 6IEC24E ?FEC:6?ED E92E 42? C65F46 E96 ?665 7@C DJ?E96E:4 76CE:=:K6C]k^Am

kAm%@3:2D w2?C2E9[ E96 rC@== !C@76DD@C :? sF77:6=5 t?8:?66C:?8[ H:== :?G6DE:82E6 E96 FD6 @7 6=64EC:42= 4FCC6?ED E@ 9@?6 2?5 4@?EC@= 496>:42= C624E:@?D H:E9 E96 82D6D] p?5 !9:==:A |:=?6C[ 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C :? E96 r@==686 @7 pCED 2?5 $4:6?46D[ H:== E6DE 9:D >6E9@5 @7 FD:?8 DF?=:89E E@ 42AEFC6 42C3@?[ 2? 2AAC@249 E92E 4@F=5 F=E:>2E6=J =625 E@ 5:C64E 42C3@? 42AEFC6 7C@> E96 2:C 2?5 4@?G6CD:@? E@ 7F6=]k^Am

kAm%6DE6C D2:5[ “xE’D 2== C6=2E65 E@ E9:D 4:C4F=2C 3:@64@?@>J[ H96C6 6G6CJE9:?8 6G6?EF2==J 42? 36 C6FD65[ H96C6 H6 42? 86E >@C6 G2=F6 7C@> :E[ 3FE 2== @7 E92E C6BF:C6D 52E2]Qk^Am

kAm%96 3:@5:86DE6C H:== 2==@H C6D62C496CD E@ E6DE E96:C 9JA@E96D6D 7C@> =23 C6D62C49 @? 2 C62= DJDE6>] p?5 E96J’== 86E 96=A 7C@> 2?@E96C {:G:?8 {23 AC@;64E 4@>:?8 @?=:?6 E9:D DF>>6C[ E96 >@3:=6 EC2:=6C\>@F?E65 rp!%&#t =23 \\ r@C?6== p5G2?465 !=2E7@C> 7@C %6DE:?8[ &E:=:K2E:@? 2?5 #6D62C49 :? r~a r2AEFC6 2?5 r@?G6CD:@?] uF?565 3J r@C?6== pE<:?D@?[ E96 =23 H:== AC@G:56 4@>A@D:E:@? 2?2=JD6D @7 E96 3:@82D 7C@> E96 5:86DE6C[ 2D H6== 2D 82D6D 7C@> @E96C D@FC46D =:<6 E96 6I92FDE DE24<D @7 r@C?6==’D r@>3:?65 w62E 2?5 !@H6C !=2?E]k^Am

kAmx? A2CE:4F=2C[ w2?C2E9’D 8C@FA H:== FD6 E96 3:@5:86DE6C 2?5 E96 rp!%&#t =23 E@ E6DE H96E96C 6=64EC:42= 4FCC6?ED 4@F=5 DE2?52C5:K6 E96 4@?G6CD:@? @7 E96 3:@82D E@ FD23=6 4@>A@F?5D]k^Am

kAmw2?C2E9[ 2 AC:?4:A2= :?G6DE:82E@C 7@C E96 rp!%&#t =23[ D2:5[ “%96 4@>A@D:E:@? @7 E96 82D 56A6?5D @? H92E J@F AFE :?[ :7 J@F AFE :? 7@@5 H2DE6 @C 4@H >2?FC6[ H92E6G6C] ~FC G2=F6 AC@A@D:E:@? :D E92E J@F 42? 92G6 2 C@3FDE E649?@=@8J E92E 42? 4@?G6CE E96 82D[ ?@ >2EE6C H92E E96 4@>A@D:E:@?] *@F ;FDE 492?86 E96 6=64EC:42= D:8?2=[ E96 D@7EH2C6[ D@ H6 42? 36 28:=6 2?5 252AE:G6]”k^Am

kAm%96 D:K6 @7 E96 DJDE6> H:== 2=D@ 2==@H C6D62C496CD E@ 62D:=J EH62< E96 4@>A@D:E:@? @7 H2DE6 8@:?8 :?E@ E96 5:86DE6C E@ F?56CDE2?5 9@H E92E :>A24ED E96 3:@82D 4@?46?EC2E:@?D 2?5 DF3D6BF6?E A6C7@C>2?46]k^Am

kAm%6DE6C[ H9@ :D 2=D@ AC:?4:A2= :?G6DE:82E@C 7@C r@C?6==’D t2CE9 $@FC46 w62E AC@;64E[ D2:5 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ DEF5J E9@D6 BF6DE:@?D @? C62= DJDE6>D – FD:?8 E96 {:G:?8 {23 2AAC@249 – :D H92E 5C6H 9:> 324< E@ r@C?6== &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am

kAm“%@ D@=G6 C62=\H@C=5 AC@3=6>D[ H6 92G6 E@ E2<6 2 >F=E:5:D4:A=:?2CJ DJDE6>D G:6H[ H9:49 :D G6CJ 5:776C6?E E92? E96 H2J 2 =@E @7 C6D62C49 :D 5@?6[” %6DE6C D2:5] “(6’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 3C:?8 2== E96 A:646D E@86E96C[ 2?5 E96C6’D ?@E @?6 A2E9 3FE >2?J] (@C<:?8 H:E9 E96D6 DJDE6>D 2==@HD FD E@ D66 E92E 2?5 AC@3=6>\D@=G6 7@C >2I:>F>[ C62=\H@C=5 :>A24E]”k^Am

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Related to this story

Most Popular

Problems differ with muddy water, salty water

Weeks of extreme heat and limited rainfall can change cattle ponds quickly. Water levels decline, while cattle often spend more time standing …

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Tractors
Combines
Harvesters
Planting
Misc Equipment
Hay Equipment
Trailers
Trucks
Livestock
Seed
Feed/Hay

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits:

Small biodigester fuels research

Marketplace

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these exclusive benefits:

People are also reading…

Be the first to know

Related to this story

Most Popular

Problems differ with muddy water, salty water

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits: