{"id":237,"date":"2026-01-12T15:55:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T23:55:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/oars-blog\/?p=237"},"modified":"2026-01-12T15:55:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T23:55:47","slug":"ammp-in-action-a-merced-county-dairy-case-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/2026\/01\/12\/ammp-in-action-a-merced-county-dairy-case-study\/","title":{"rendered":"AMMP in Action: A Merced County Dairy Case Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our\u00a0Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)<\/a>\u00a0provides financial\u00a0assistance\u00a0for the implementation of greenhouse gas emissions\u00a0reducing,\u00a0non-digester manure management practices on dairy and livestock operations. Tiberio Cardoso, whose family has been farming since 1981, is the Operations and Finance Manager for Manuel and Maria Cardoso & Sons Dairy in Merced County. With a 2022 AMMP grant award, he and his family added\u00a0additional\u00a0manure separation technologies to improve their dairy\u2019s manure management system.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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The dairy\u2019s new solid-liquid manure separator.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Solid-liquid separation equipment such as the sloped screen mechanical separator installed on the dairy can keep manure in a drier form and out of non-oxygenated conditions, emitting significantly less methane than liquid slurry or manure stored in ponds and allowing the components to be more efficiently reused. The solids could then be used for bedding, keeping housed cows cleaner and drier, and reducing sediment buildup in the flush lanes. The solid separation resulted in cleaner lagoon waters that lead to less solids accumulation around irrigation valves, helping prevent crop damage in those areas. Separation also increased lagoon storage capacity, which is a crucial benefit in years that they receive excessive rainfall. One surprising benefit Cardoso noticed is that manure separated in this fashion proved easier to store and keep dry in the winter months, which may help to further reduce methane emissions.  <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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Tiberio Cardoso stands by the new collection pit that agitates and pumps flush water to the separator.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cOur number one priority is our animals and their comfort along with protecting our environment. Our project provides significant benefits to our operation [by] improving animal comfort with improved bedding and also helping us meet environmental regulations, which is a win-win situation. This allows us to remain sustainable in producing a food item that is a necessity in society.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardoso notes that the AMMP funds made it possible to implement the climate smart practices they have wanted to incorporate but were not financially\u00a0viable\u00a0options for them. Beyond the greenhouse gas emissions reductions, they found financial savings too: \u201cSeparating the manure before it enters the ponds has saved us money that would have gone to pond cleanings; handling and moving drier manure has also reduced our hauling and spreading costs. Those cost savings will help keep us sustainable [in the] short- and long-term.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

California\u2019s Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) helps dairies reduce greenhouse gas emissions through climate-smart manure management practices. At a Merced County dairy, AMMP funding supported solid-liquid manure separation technology that cut methane emissions, improved manure handling, and delivered operational savings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":239,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[5],"class_list":["post-237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-producer-success-story","tag-methane-reduction","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/METHAN2-rotated.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":63,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/03\/28\/sustainability-spotlight-manure-management-improvements-at-triple-c-dairy\/","url_meta":{"origin":237,"position":0},"title":"Manure Management Improvements at Triple C Dairy\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"March 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This grantee Q&A was conducted by Dr. Alyssa Louie with the help of Mr. Robert Camozzi and Ms. Stephanie Dehner (Triple C Dairy) in November 2024 to develop an AMMP project profile in partnership with the California Air Resources Board Climate Investments Policy Section.\u00a0 Owner and operator of Triple C\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Producer Success Story"","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Manure collection pit and screw press separator installed as part of the AMMP project.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-28-112156.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-28-112156.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-28-112156.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":171,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/investing-in-impact-how-the-oars-team-helps-deliver-climate-solutions-on-california-dairy-and-livestock-farms\/","url_meta":{"origin":237,"position":1},"title":"Investing in Impact: How the OARS Team Helps Deliver Climate Solutions on California Dairy and Livestock Farms\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The CDFA Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) is dedicated to supporting California's dairy and livestock farmers in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 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A century later, his grandsons continue to dairy and have expanded on multiple facilities\u2014 and now, they\u2019re also\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Producer Success Story"","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":279,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/2026\/02\/02\/hilmar-cluster-making-a-real-difference\/","url_meta":{"origin":237,"position":3},"title":"Hilmar Cluster: Making a Real Difference\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"February 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Through the implementation of anaerobic digesters, CalBioGas Hilmar LLC (Hilmar Cluster), working with Hilmar dairy farmers, are leading the way toward a more sustainable future for their surrounding community. \u00a0Cluster projects consist of a hub facility for centralized operations, including the collection of biogas from multiple dairy digesters. The hub\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Producer Success Story"","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/01\/23\/sustainability-spotlight-vander-woude-dairys-digester\/","url_meta":{"origin":237,"position":4},"title":"Anaerobic Dairy Digester Converts Methane to Renewable Natural Gas in Merced County","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"January 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Vander Woude Dairy is transforming sustainability in agriculture. This family-owned farm in Merced, California, has implemented a cutting-edge methane digester, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 24,000 MTCO\u2082e annually and converting waste into Renewable Compressed Natural Gas (R-CNG). With state support and local partnerships, the project also creates jobs and empowers\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Producer Success Story"","block_context":{"text":"Producer Success Story","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/producer-success-story\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wordpress-Featured-Image-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wordpress-Featured-Image-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wordpress-Featured-Image-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wordpress-Featured-Image-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wordpress-Featured-Image-2.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":175,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/technical-assistance-program-builds-statewide-partnerships-in-climate-smart-and-conservation-agriculture\/","url_meta":{"origin":237,"position":5},"title":"Technical Assistance Program Builds Statewide Partnerships in Climate Smart and Conservation Agriculture\u00a0","author":"Sureena Johl","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The OARS Technical Assistance (TA) Program is critical to realizing the OARS mission: \u201cto use the best available science and knowledge from the agricultural community to design and implement practical solutions to California\u2019s natural resource challenges that improve the environmental and economic sustainability of producing nutritious food, fiber, and energy.\u201d\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Informational"","block_context":{"text":"Informational","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/category\/informational\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Secretary Ross gives an inspirational talk to Technical Assistance Providers on the importance and impact of their work at the 2024 OARS TA Conference.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/TA-Conference_2024_1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=237"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":240,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237\/revisions\/240"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Oars-blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}