How Modern Farms Use Less Water, Land, & Emissions
As a dairy farmer and the founder of WonderCow Nutrition, my life revolves around cows, community, and creating a healthier future. On the farm, I’m committed to sustainability, climate neutrality, soil health, regenerative agriculture, recycling, and herd care.
Through WonderCow, I take that same passion beyond the farm, bringing the power of whole colostrum and bovine superfoods to families everywhere.
This work is not easy. Dairy farming means living with the constant ups and downs of milk prices and swings as wild as Colorado weather (which means high temperatures and blizzards all in the same region!) All while having no control over what we’re paid for milk or what feed costs us, the margins are out of our hands.
You learn quickly to focus on what you can control, and let go of what you can’t. Once you embrace that, this industry is a blessing.
At the end of the day, I get to spend my time caring for animals, feeding and milking them, investing in the land, and working with great people. And now, more than ever, I also get to be part of a sustainable movement that’s reshaping the dairy industry and fueling a new wave of nutrition for people around the world.
Photo of Founder Rob's Grandpa. 7 generations and counting!
History of Sustainability in the Dairy Industry
Most people don’t realize how far dairy has come. In the last 50 years, the U.S. dairy industry has quietly become one of the biggest success stories in sustainability! And the pace has only accelerated in the last five years.
1971–2020: Sustainability Progress across US Dairies
- 2.5x milk production
- 42% less feed
- 42% less greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
- 28% less water used
Source: "50 years of environmental progress for US dairy farms" - Journal of Dairy Science
1964–2014: How California Dairy Farms are Practicing Sustainability
- 89% less land used
- 45% less GHG emissions
- 89% less water used
Source: "Greenhouse gas, water, and land footprint..." - Journal of Dairy Science
And that’s just the beginning. Technology advancements in the last decade have opened the door to even greater progress, pushing us closer to climate neutrality than ever before.
California Dairy Sustainability: Leading the Way in Climate-Smart Farming
The state of California has raised the bar even higher. Senate Bill 1383 requires a 40% reduction of methane emissions below 2013 levels by 2030.
Here’s the exciting part: thanks to the progress since 2014, we’re already two-thirds of the way there. A recent study published in CABI Biological Sciences found that the California dairy sector could reach climate neutrality as soon as 2027, meaning, no additional warming to the atmosphere.
That’s not just a goal, it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity!
How California Dairy Farmers are Working Toward Climate Neutrality
So, how do dairy farmers tackle methane?
By turning a challenge into a solution. California dairies are capturing methane and converting it into clean, renewable energy. In 2025, this looks like:
- 168 dairy farms already operate methane digesters.
- 70+ more projects are underway, soon to bring the total to 271 farms.
- The renewable energy created is already replacing diesel fuel, charging electric vehicles, and powering homes and businesses.
To put it in perspective:
- California dairy farms currently generate enough renewable natural gas to fuel 3,500 transit buses.
- Enough renewable electricity is produced to power 13,500 electric vehicles.
- Altogether, that’s the equivalent of powering 17,000 vehicles daily.
On my own farm, we installed a methane digester that captures all of our cows’ manure. Through fuel cell technology, that methane is converted into electricity. It powers our farm, and the extra goes straight into California’s grid - which helps power cars, trucks, and buildings across the state.
Founder Rob on his dairy collecting colostrum to feed the baby calves.
Why Sustainable Dairy Farming Matters
This is what keeps me motivated when milk prices dip and times get tough. Because I know that what we’re building today is so much bigger than my farm alone.
We’re not just producing milk. We’re producing renewable energy. We’re reducing greenhouse gases. We’re caring for animals. We’re restoring soil. We’re protecting water.
And most importantly, we’re preparing the way for my kids, and someday their kids, to continue stewarding the resources God has given us. That’s the real cow power. And it’s why I’ll never stop pushing for a better tomorrow.
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Here's to living wonderfully.
With gratitude,
Rob Diepersloot
Founder, WonderCow Nutrition