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Penn State Extension Offers Farm Energy Efficiency Workshops April 10, 11

In April, Penn State Extension and its partners will offer two farm energy efficiency workshops, once for dairy operations and a second to certify technicians in the preparation of agricultural energy management plans.
           On April 10, Penn State Extension is conducting a “Dairy Farm Energy Efficiency Training.” 
            On April 11 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will offer energy efficiency training for individuals and businesses interested in becoming a certified Technical Service Provider for NRCS to write Agricultural Energy Management Plans.  
            Cost is $145 for both trainings or $75 for each individual day training.  Both trainings will take place at the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit which is located at 90 Lawton Lane, Milton, PA and is just east of Lewisburg. 
            To register, contact SEDA-Council of Governments at 570-524-4491ext. 7218.  You can also register online.  Online registration will require a credit card.   Registration deadline is April 3. 
            NRCS and Penn State Extension in partnership with SEDA-COG are holding joint energy efficiency trainings for individuals and businesses interested in becoming a certified Technical Service Provider for NRCS to write Agricultural Energy Management Plans (AgEMP) for PA agricultural producers for both Headquarters and/or Landscape. 
           A Technical Service Provider or TSP is an individual who is certified through NRCS to perform services. Each certified TSP goes through a registration and approval process that involves an online registry of service providers, required trainings and review of a sample plan much of which we will cover on the second day of training. 
            The first day of the training is being held to provide in-depth, hands on training to potential TSP’s to learn about the required elements of a Dairy Farm AgEMP for Headquarters. You will learn about where energy savings potential can be found on a dairy farm, work through data collection and plan writing exercises that are acceptable for AgEMP plan development and ultimately develop a sample plan which can be used for plan review and approval for the certification process to become a TSP. 
            For more information on the first day training contact, Dr. Dan Ciolkosz, Penn State Ag Engineer, at 814-863-3484 or send email to:  dec109@psu.edu.  A full agenda for the first day training is available online.
            The second day of training which is for both Headquarters and Landscape will cover the plan development criteria and review a sample plan for Headquarters and Landscape. We will provide an overview of NRCS programs so you can see and understand the full scope of business opportunities available in planning and design/implementation.
            We will provide a classroom setting for NRCS Conservation Planning and TSP Orientation which will exempt you from taking those required courses online. The entire afternoon will be hands-on creation of your TSP profile for the online registry.  
            One-on-one personal assistance with this process will be provided. There is not a requirement for individuals interested in becoming a TSP for Headquarters to attend both training days, but is highly recommended, particularly if you are unfamiliar in a farm setting.
            For more information on the NRCS training, contact Stacy Koch, NRCS, at 570-925-5531.


3/26/2012

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