In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Jenn Coyne visits with Evan Barton of South Fork Dairy Farm in Newark, Ohio. Barton is a first-generation dairy farmer who signed a deal with Clean Energy Fuel to use the manure that his cows produce to create renewable natural gas. The amount of clean fuel produced allows about 52 Amazon trucks to fill up at the fuel station each day as an added benefit to Barton reducing his farm’s carbon footprint. The episode also discusses Barton’s perspective as a first-generation farmer in today’s industry.

Here is the breakdown of the episode:

• Tell us about your career in the dairy industry. [~1:01]
• What led to this partnership with Clean Energy Fuel? [~3:43]
• What is the project timeline? [~5:00]
• How will you have to prepare your farm for the partnership? [~6:09]
• How will manure be processed at your farm? [~8:03]
• How has this business decision bettered your farm? [~8:57]
• From an environmental and sustainability standpoint, how are you anticipating this manure digester to benefit your farm? [~10:04]
• How did you get into the dairy industry? [~12:31]
• What have been those key moments that defined your career and helped you build it to what it is today? [~17:16]
• How do you evaluate a proposition and whether it’s right or not for your dairy? [~19:14]
• What was the best advice you’ve ever received regarding dairy farming? [~21:06]
• What advice would you give to a new producer entering today’s industry? [~22:01]
• What’s next for Evan Barton and South Fork Dairy Farm? [~22:57]
• Rapid-fire questions [~23:51]

Contact Evan Barton:

ebarton3@gmail.com