All Codigestion Projects

Deerfield, MA – Bar‑Way Farm

Deerfield, MA

Bar-Way Farm, Inc. is a multi-generational dairy farm in Deerfield, Massachusetts, founded in 1919 and operated by Steven Melnik and his son, Peter.

The farm encompasses 600 acres of cropland. More than 300 cows are milked each day, producing an average of 2,000 gallons of milk daily. The farm is a member of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA).

Anaerobic digestion facility on a farm, generating renewable energy from food waste recycling
Anaerobic digestion facility on a farm, generating renewable energy from food waste recycling
Tractor distributing low-carbon sustainable fertilizer from anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic digestion facility on a farm, generating renewable energy from food waste recycling
Two people on a dairy farm practicing regenerative agriculture

Project Facts

  • 600-acre dairy farm
  • Founded in 1919
  • 300 cows milked daily
  • Produces more than 2,000 gallons of milk daily
  • Receives organic waste and provides renewable energy via net metering credits to businesses
  • Annual digester inputs: 36,500 tons of food waste and 9,125 tons of manure
  • Annual digester output: Produces 7,700 MWh of renewable energy and offsets more than 1,000 tons of CO2 emissions. Produces renewable energy equivalent to powering 1,600 homes

Impact

The Vanguard Renewables Farm Powered anaerobic digester at Bar-Way farm was constructed in 2016 and features a 660,000-gallon capacity anaerobic digester tank. The facility combines more than 9,000 tons of manure and 36,500 tons of food waste annually and converts it to renewable energy. This offsets more than 2 million pounds of CO2 emissions annually. The 7,700 MWh of renewable energy produced each year by the Deerfield anaerobic digester system is enough to power 1,600 homes.

Anaerobic digestion facility on a farm, generating renewable energy from food waste recycling

Manure from the dairy farm operation and organic food and beverage waste are combined in the anaerobic digester. Microorganisms convert sugars, fats, and other compounds into biogas to produce renewable energy and low-carbon fertilizer. The farm receives an annual lease payment for hosting the anaerobic digester plus hot water, heat, and energy savings.

Learn more about the impact for farms
The anaerobic digester significantly reduces farm expenses for energy, cow bedding, and heat, and minimizes smells on the farm which makes us better neighbors.
Photo of Peter Melnik

Peter Melnik, Bar-Way Farm

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Farm Benefits at a Glance

  • Annual hosting lease payment
  • Low-carbon fertilizer to increase crop yields
  • Reduced energy cost
  • Odor reduction
  • Reduction in chemical fertilizer use
  • Enhanced nutrient management plan
  • Heat and hot water

Get in Touch

Ready to make a difference? Find out how we can partner to harness the power of food and beverage waste.

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Dairy cow