On May 17 USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced an initiative to help California agricultural produces transition to more energy efficient operations. This will allow producers to become more energy independent while saving money as they reduce energy consumption.

Funding is available for on-farm energy audits. The audits will be individually-tailored to reduce primary energy uses at each location.
Examples of primary energy uses are: heating and cooling of livestock
facilities, grain drying, irrigation pumping and other on-farm activities.   

This program is part of the 2008 Farm Bill Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). California is one of 29 states receiving funding this year.
The cost of the initial audits and associated Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP), which provides producers a roadmap for future implementation of energy-efficient practices, will be funded by NRCS.

In addition, producers may have an opportunity to apply for cost share funding through EQIP to implement some of the plan’s recommendations.

Applications are due on or before June 18, 2010. Funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To apply or to find out more, please contact our local NRCS office at 805.386.4489, or stop by at 3380 Somis Road in Somis.