Reassessing the Role of Alternative Manure Management in California’s Methane Reduction Strategy
CalCAN’s latest report highlights the potential of Alternative Manure Management to achieve California’s looming climate goals. The report notes that alternative manure management is a cost-effective way to reduce methane on dairies while offering major co-benefits such as improving water quality, enhancing soil health, and supporting producer viability.
CalCAN’s analysis is particularly timely as CARB seeks public feedback to guide its implementation of SB 1383, which sets a 40% methane reduction target for the dairy and livestock sector by 2030. CARB is requesting input on methane mitigation strategies, emissions data, and potential regulatory approaches, with comments accepted through March 30, 2026.
Key Findings:
- AMMP’s methane reduction potential has been underestimated.
- High adoption rates have significant potential for methane reduction.
- AMMP is more cost-effective than recognized.
- Co-benefits of alternative manure management practices can play a vital role in meeting various state targets.
Reassessing the Role of Alternative Manure Management in California’s Methane Reduction Strategy provides evidence-based insights and policy recommendations to help ensure future policies reflect the full potential of alternative manure management to reduce methane while delivering co-benefits for water quality, soil health, and organic agriculture.
Related Bill: AB 2100
In February, Assemblymember Damon Connolly introduced AB 2100 in partnership with the California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN). The bill helps ensure California’s dairies can implement and scale up practical alternative manure management strategies to achieve California’s climate and environmental goals.
What are Alternative Manure Management Strategies?
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), established in 2017, provides support for dairies to upgrade to lower-emission manure management systems that often produce compost. AMMP has played an important role in progress toward California’s 2030 methane reduction target, and a recent analysis shows the program has even greater potential. Wider adoption of these alternative manure management practices could result in significant methane reductions, significant improvements in water quality, and significant contributions towards the state’s healthy soils and organic acreage targets.
What AB 2100 Accomplishes:
AB 2100 would convene a task force to analyze the role of alternative manure management in achieving California’s climate and environmental goals and to recommend improvements to state plans and incentive programs. This bill would also convene relevant permitting agencies to develop a clearer and more efficient process for approving new and expanded manure composting projects.
Why It’s Critical Now:
Statewide demand for AMMP has consistently outpaced funding by an average of 200-300 percent, signaling strong interest and a clear need to strengthen the program to meet on-the-ground demand.
This legislation bridges that gap in demand by taking steps to improve state planning and support for alternative manure management strategies while addressing barriers to project approvals.
Next Steps:
AB 2100 is set to be heard by a legislative committee in March. We will continue to update this page and our current campaigns page during this campaign.
