Farm Bureau is urging support for S. 3248, the Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act. The legislation, recently introduced by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), would provide a 30-percent investment tax credit to incentivize investments in biogas digesters and nutrient recovery systems. The bill is companion to H.R. 5489, which was introduced by Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and Tom Reed (R-N.Y.)

Tax incentives provided by the bills will help farmers manage the upfront capital costs of installing this new and often expensive technology. According to the Agriculture Department, biogas coupled with nutrient recovery systems can generate renewable energy, produce high-value products, deliver renewable fuels, provide an innovative approach to nutrient management and boost economic development in rural communities.