2017 ag census includes data on on-farm methane digesters

The USDA announced the results of its 2017 Census of Agriculture on April 11. The report includes millions of new points of information about America’s farms and ranches and those who operate them, including data on on-farm biogas operations.

According to the census, 686 methane digesters were operational on U.S. farms in 2017, up from 537 in 2012. The census defines methane digesters as a device that captures biogas resulting from the decomposition of manure, processing by-products, and other materials. Methane digesters were reported only if in production and used in 2017.

The report breaks down the presence of these digesters by farm size. Of the 686 digesters reported in the 2017 census, 67 were located on farms ranging in size from one to nine acres, with 153 located on farms 10 to 49 acres in size, 32 on farms with 50 to 69 acres, 46 on farms with 70 to 90 acres, 31 on farms with 100 to 139 acres, 26 on farms with 140 to 179 acres, 17 on farms with 180 to 219 acres, 23 on farms with 220 to 259 acres, 71 on farms with 260 to 499 acres, 63 on farms with 500 to 999 acres, 70 on farms with 1,000 to 1,999 acres, and 87 on farms with 20,000 or more acres.

According to the report, 89 of the 686 digesters were located on farms with oilseed and grain farming operations, with 29 located on vegetable and melon farms, 43 located on fruit and tree nut farms, 25 located on farms with greenhouse nursery and floriculture production, and 87 located on farms that produce other crops, such as tobacco, cotton, sugarcane or hay. The report indicates that 136 digesters are located on beef cattle ranches, with nine located on cattle feedlots, 167 located on dairy cattle operations, 20 located on hog and pig farms, 21 located on poultry and egg farms, 19 located on sheep and goat farms, and 41 located on other animal production operations.

Regarding legal status for tax purposes, 430 of the 686 methane digesters were listed as under ownership by a family or individual. The report shows 127 under ownership by a partnership, 102 under ownership by a corporation, and 27 under other types of ownership.  A total of 91 of the digesters owned by corporations were owned by family held corporations, with 86 of those facilities held by family held corporations with 10 or less stockholders. Only 11 digesters were owned by non-family held corporations.

The census includes data on ownership and tenant arrangements, reporting that farms are the full owners of 363 of the 686 digesters, part owners of 258 digesters and tenants for 65 digesters.

Regarding operating arrangements, the census shows 285 of the 686 digesters have one producers, with 247 that have two producers, 129 that have three or four producers, and 25 with five or more producers.   

The census also breaks down the farms where those 686 digesters are located based on the market value of the agricultural products sold. According to the report, 189 digesters were located on farms where that value was $1 million or more, while 41 were on farms where the value ranged from $500,000 to $999,000, 41 were on farms where the value ranged from $250,000 to $499,000, 51 on farms were the value ranged from $100,000 to $249,999, 57 on farms where the value ranged from $50,000 to $99,999, 39 where the value ranged from $25,000 to $49,999, 47 where the value ranged from $10,000 to $24,999, 40 where the value ranged from $5,000 to $9,999, 61 where the value ranged from $2,500 to $4,999, 28 where the value ranged from $1,000 to $2,499, and 92 where the value ranged less than $1,000.  

When broken down based on government payments and market value of agricultural products sold, 195 digesters were located on farms where that value was $1 million or more, with 38 on farms where the value ranged from $500,000 to $999,999, 39 on farms where the value ranged from $250,000 to $249,000, 53 on farms where the value ranged from $100,000 to $249,999, 57 on farms where the value ranged from $50,000 to $99,999, 44 where the value ranged from $25,000 to $49,999, 48 where the value ranged from $10,000 to $24,999, 46 where the value ranged from $5,000  to $9,999, 58 where the value ranged from $2,500 to $4,999, 39 where the value ranged from $1,000 to $2,499, and 69 where the value was less than $1,000.

A full copy of the 2017 Census of Agriculture is available on the USDA website.