Assistance Now Available For On-Farm Energy Conservation

Spokane, WA - Financial and technical assistance is now available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)for producers interested in conserving energy on their property, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today.

NRCS and producers develop Agricultural Energy Management Plans (AgEMP) or farm energy audits that assess energy consumption on an operation. NRCS then uses auditdata to develop energy conservation recommendations. Each AgEMP has a landscape component that assesses equipment and farming processes and a farm headquarters component that assesses power usage and efficiencies in livestock buildings, grain handling operations, and similar facilities to support the farm operation.

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Producers may also receive assistance to implement energy efficiency measures such as irrigation improvements, farmstead energy improvements, tillage management and pumping plant improvements.

According to NRCS Acting Asst. State Conservationist, Lacey Gaw, a qualified energy management consultant will work with producers using a new energy assessment tool. “The tool is tailored specifically for Washington producers and will help evaluate energy conservation options and identify potential energy savings on each operation,” Gaw said.

The on-farm energy initiative is a continuous sign-up, and applications may be submitted at any time. Applications will be evaluated periodically as funding becomes available.

Application evaluation periods will end February 3, 2012, March 30, 2012 and June 1, 2012.

For the location of your local NRCS office, visit the NRCS website at mid://00003072/!x-usc:http://www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov/">www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov or call 509-323-2900.