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Texas Agricultural Technical Assistance Program
Investing in our communities through improved energy efficiency in farming operations is a win-win opportunity for state agriculture. We want to make Texas-made products available to every market in the world, and we can keep prices competitive when farmers operate efficiently. Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, 2008 The Texas Agricultural Technical Assistance Program is a new project overseen by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, State Energy Conservation Office (SECO). This program will provide the agricultural producers of Texas with the technical assistance they need to make cost-effective, energy efficient choices. Investing in our communities through improved energy efficiency in farming operations is a significant opportunity for Texas agriculture. Energy-efficient farms reduce energy costs, increase available capital, spur economic growth and improve the working environment. The Texas Agricultural Technical Assistance Program provides Texas agricultural operations with free technical assistance for their Energy Assessment Reports (EARs) for farm buildings and facilities. EARs identify and recommend opportunities to save on energy costs such as electricity, propane and diesel fuel within farm operations. SECO in partnership with the following groups will administer the Texas Agricultural Technical Assistance Program and by working together, we will maximize the effectiveness of energy efficiency activities within the Texas agricultural sector.
Free Technical Assistance Energy Assessment Reports To find out what level of assistance is best for you, call us at (800) 732-1399.
The program will provide free services that will help producers save energy. These services include:
All agricultural producers in Texas are eligible to participate and at the minimum receive tier 1 of the technical services. In addition, SECO will continue to strive to assist the agriculture industry and is committed to provide technical assistance in each of the two tiers., especially the free EARs mentioned in tier 2. apply for a EAR, although some restrictions apply. Preparing an EAR involves several steps, including data collection. When agricultural producers sign up for an EAR, they begin the process with a phone interview with EnSave. During the interview, data is collected about the farm's energy usage, and afterwards, a data collector will tour the farm to collect information about the farming equipment. To equip producers to take charge of energy costs, the EAR will take these factors into account:
To find out what level of assistance is best for you, call us at (800) 732-1399. In addition to the free EARs, this program works with agriculture producers to access additional funds to implement energy efficient projects such as grants and guaranteed loan funds available through the USDA's Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program, Section 9006, as well as utility company incentives and loan funds and economic development funds, as applicable. The USDA Rural Development Section is designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses obtain federal grants and loan guarantees to make energy efficiency improvements to their existing operations or to install their own renewable energy systems. Since the Section 9006 program began in 2003, USDA Rural Development has awarded grants and loan guarantees to applicants across the country for renewable energy projects including energy efficiency improvements for poultry houses, grain dryers and irrigation systems and renewable energy projects that include utility and small wind power, biomass, biofuels and solar projects. Grant funds can pay up to 25 percent of eligible project costs. Loan guarantees can fund up to 75 percent of eligible projects. A loan and grant combination can fund up to 75 percent of total eligible project costs. Some of these loans and grants can help agricultural producers make energy efficiency improvements to their existing operations or install their own renewable energy systems. National Association of Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils RC&Ds are an integral part of the program in several ways:
Data Collection Training Data collectors will be trained on two or three types of agriculture operations prevalent in their own regions. Training will begin with a classroom session, followed by site visits for each type of agriculture. For example, if the training is on dairy and poultry, there will be visits to two dairy operations and two poultry operations. The purpose of the first visit is to observe as the trainer completes the data collection. During the second farm visit, the trainees will practice their own data collecting. Once trained and in the field, data collectors will be paid $250 per data collection but incidental expenses are not included. A typical data collection appointment will last between two and three hours, not including travel. USDA Rural Development Grant Application Training Websites:
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