Rosemont, IL – July 2, 2026 –
Newtrient has completed a multi-year, nationwide evaluation of 15 dairy manure treatment technologies and practices. This work is supported by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding. The project assessed each technology for effectiveness, practicality, and environmental impact, with a focus on improving water quality. Additionally, downstream benefits of each technology were identified regarding efficient utilization of manure and opportunities for marketable products.
“Independent, field-based data is critical for farmers considering new technologies,” said Chris Kopman, CEO of Newtrient. “This grant allowed us to generate reliable, real-world information that helps producers make informed adoption decisions while providing NRCS with the documentation needed to assess innovative systems under established conservation practice standards.”
Many promising manure management solutions exist, but adoption has often been limited by a lack of field-tested information demonstrating environmental and operational performance. Newtrient addressed this challenge by developing and applying a standardized evaluation methodology in collaboration with NRCS and Washington State University. Each of the 15 technologies were evaluated under commercial conditions on farms of varying sizes across diverse dairy regions in the U.S., generating a consistent, relevant body of evidence on performance, feasibility, and water quality outcomes.
A secondary objective of the project was to establish a process that could support NRCS consideration of technologies under Conservation Practice Standard 629 (CPS 629) and related standards, helping inform potential pathways for NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program and other incentives. For technologies not previously included under an NRCS CPS, the evaluations provide the credible documentation necessary for potential recognition and future funding.
Through partnerships with land-grant universities, technology providers, and participating dairy farmers, supported by grant fund-matching from A&L Great Lakes and Dairy Management Inc., Newtrient produced more than 50 publicly available deliverables, including technical reports, vendor snapshots, evaluation summaries, webinars, and videos. Findings have been shared through conferences, technical presentations, the Newtrient website, and other online resources, with dissemination continuing beyond the grant’s conclusion. The full suite of evaluation results is available on the Newtrient CIG project page.
With the completion of this CIG, Newtrient is providing a national resource for the dairy and conservation communities, reducing uncertainty around innovative manure management solutions and supporting informed, site-specific adoption decisions. Building on this foundation, Newtrient will continue seeking opportunities and funding to expand the research, accelerate adoption of sustainable technologies, and advance environmental outcomes across U.S. dairy operations.
This work is supported by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) though its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding.