USDA Providing Funding Opportunity for Energy Audits on Farms

Bangor, ME – July 21, 2009 – Do you wonder about what techniques you could use to reduce the amount of energy used on your farm? The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a new opportunity through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program that may provide you funds to help get an energy audit at your farm’s headquarters.

An Agricultural Energy Management Plan, which is unique to the farm’s headquarters, is developed to assist an owner/operator to know what techniques or equipment can be used to reduce energy use and save money.

Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, NRCS will pay up to 75% of the cost of an Agricultural Energy Management Plan, based on both the number of animal units or annual gross income.

Agricultural Energy Management Plans will be developed by a Technical Service Provider, who is certified by NRCS and placed on an “approved list” to provide technical assistance to farmers and others for specific conservation programs administered by USDA.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. The application deadline for this year’s funding is August 7, 2009. Applications will be funded as requests are received and eligibility has been determined. A total of $200,000 is available in Fiscal Year 2009 for the development of conservation activity plans.

Since 1935, the Natural Resources Conservation Service has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources. NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer's specific needs and provides financial assistance for many conservation activities.

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