The COWS Act would establish a new federal manure management conservation program that reduces methane emissions on dairies while improving the economic viability of small and medium-sized dairies and offering an alternative to anaerobic digesters. The proposed program is modeled on California’s successful and popular Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). The COWS Act would extend these voluntary incentives to dairy producers across the country.
The Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act has been introduced in both the House and the Senate:
- H.R. 4327: Sponsored by Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Josh Harder (D-CA)
- S. 2479: Sponsored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT)
Sign on in Support!
If you are a dairy producer, an organization, or a business, please consider signing on to a support letter by filling in this short form or by emailing info@calclimateag.org.
Additional COWS Act Resources:
Fact sheet
Section-by-Section Summary
Bill language: H.R. 4327 and S. 2479
Media Coverage of the COWS Act
7/25/23
COWS Act Aims to Boost Dairy Profitability and Sustainability | CalCAN
7/25/23
Costa leads Bipartisan Coalition in Introducing Legislation to establish a New Manure Management Conservation program | Rep. Jim Costa
7/25/2023
PADILLA INTRODUCES COWS ACT TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS | Contra Costa News
7/26/2023
Daybreak July 26: Commodity groups look to head off checkoff attack | Agri-Pulse
7/27/2023
California U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Introduces COWS Act to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions |Sierra Sun Times
7/27/2023
AgNet News Hour: Thursday, 07-27-23 | AgNet News
7/31/2023
Manure bill introduced in Senate, House | The Fence Post
7/31/2023
ALL ABOUT THE COWS ACT, BROUGHT TO YOU BY SEN. PADILLA | The Sacramento Bee
8/1/2023
Valadao: ‘Reduce methane emissions from cows to improve air quality’ | The Ripon Advance
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Lead COWS Act Supporters
These organizations have also already signed-on:
Alcorn State University
American Sustainable Business Network
Center for Food Safety
Climate Land Leaders
Danone North America
Environmental Law & Policy Center
Environmental Working Group
Farm Aid
Kansas Rural Center
KOL Foods
Land Stewardship project
Latino Farmers & Ranchers International, Inc.
Maine Farmland Trust
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
National Milk Producers Federation
National Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
New Mexico Healthy Soil Working Group
Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association
Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Pasa Sustainable Agriculture
Quapaw Canoe Company
Southern Environmental Law Center
Stonyfield
The Wetlands Initiative
Virginia Association for Biological Farming
Waterkeepers Chesapeake – Fair Farms Initiative
Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (WODPA)
If you are a dairy producer, an organization, or a business, please consider signing on to a support letter by filling in this short form or by emailing info@calclimateag.org.
