By Julia Hollister
There are a lot of firsts in Albert Straus’ farming history.
Straus Dairy Farm was the first certified organic dairy farm west of the Mississippi River, and Straus Family Creamery was the first certified organic creamery in the United States.
That’s not all. He plans to take another giant step this year.
“I plan to reach my goal of implementing a carbon-neutral dairy farming model on Straus Dairy Farm in the latter part of 2023,” he said. “The farm will be the first dairy to use a specific red seaweed that reduces methane emissions in cow burps.”
By adding about one ounce of the seaweed to each cow’s daily ration, their enteric methane emissions will be reduced by 52% to as much as 90%, according the dairy’s website. He also has a digester that removes methane from manure.