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USDA Offers Help With On-Farm Energy Audits
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USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is offering funding opportunities for energy audits at a farm’s headquarters or on cropland.
Producers interested in obtaining energy audits through this Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) should apply by June 18 to be considered for the 2010 funding cycle.
The energy audits will be individually tailored to ensure coverage of each farm's primary energy uses such as milk cooling, irrigation pumping, heating and cooling of livestock production facilities, manure collection and transfer, grain drying, and similar common on-farm activities.
An Agricultural Energy Management Plan will be developed to identify what techniques or equipment can be used to reduce energy use and save money. The plan will be designed by a Technical Service Provider (certified by NRCS and placed on an approved list) who will provide technical assistance for specific conservation programs administered by USDA.
Through EQIP, NRCS will pay up to 75 percent of the average cost of an Agricultural Energy Management Plan based on the number of animal units or acres of cropland. Payment rates can be viewed online.
Producers signing up after June 18th, or producers who are not funded in 2010, due to the number of requests exceeding available funds, can ask to have their application retained for consideration in 2011.
A free on-line assessment is available online to see how you can become more energy efficient.
For more information about USDA’s energy initiative, or other conservation programs, please visit the PA NRCS website or contact the nearest USDA Service Center in your area.
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6/14/2010 |
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