All food production is part of the food ecosystem . The environment plays an important role in that ecosystem . Farmers and ranchers work to minimize the negative effects that food production can have on the environment . Let ’ s learn more about how dairy farmers in Colorado and across the U . S . are reducing their environmental footprint .

Colorado is home to 186,000 dairy cows . Of the state ’ s top foods produced , dairy ranks second ( behind beef cattle ) with an estimated 4.8 billion pounds of milk produced each year .

Thanks to increasingly modern and new dairy farming practices , the environmental impact of producing one gallon of milk has shrunk significantly . This is because dairy farmers have better management practices improving cow comfort , cow health and nutrition , and breeding .

The dairy community is committed to conserving natural resources and making further progress . By 2050 , they have set these goals : 1 ) Become carbon neutral or better ; 2 ) Optimize water use ; and 3 ) Improve water quality and soil health .

Did you know animal manure can be turned into useful energy ? That ’ s thanks in part to digesters , which help dairy and pig farmers make animal poop into something we can all use . Micro-organisms break down organic materials like cow and pig manure in a processed called anaerobic digestion . This happens in a closed tank , where there ’ s no oxygen , called a digester . On a dairy or pork farm , digesters come in a range of sizes and styles . In the digester , bacteria break down the manure , creating biogas . The biogas can be used for electricity , heat , compressed natural gas , and even vehicle fuel . Digesters can also create other materials , or byproducts , like fertilizers , compost , or even comfortable cow bedding .

Use the following steps to create a smallscale model to demonstrate the science that is taking place in a methane digester :

1 . Add 1 and 1 / 2 cups of warm water to an empty water bottle . This represents the manure from pigs and cattle that is flushed from the barn to covered lagoons .

2 . Add 3 tablespoons of yeast and 3 tablespoons of sugar .

3 . Mix the water , yeast , and sugar together and place a balloon over the end of the bottle . Anaerobic bacteria ( represented by yeast ) are mixed with the manure , resulting in a biogas that can be used to power generators and create renewable electricity .

4 . Observe the changes that take place over the next 30-60 minutes .

4 - Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom Sources : USDairy . com and AgClassroom . org