House File 522, a measure that would allow a qualified confined animal feeding operation to utilize an anaerobic digester system to treat manure in Iowa is getting mixed reaction in the legislature. Iowa State Dairy Association Executive Director Mitch Schulte says his group backs the bill and is hoping to see it reach final approval.

He says anaerobic digesters benefit dairies and ag operations financially as well as environmentally.

Schulte says another positive aspect to the legislation is that if an ag operation is allowed to install an anaerobic digester they can increase the number of animals they have on site.

Schulte says their goal is to produce more milk using less land and less resources and being more environmentally friendly and being able to utilize anaerobic digesters helps them achieve that.