Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Working group to offer small farm energy demo grants

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March 3, 2010

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Iowa farmers with small to midsize operations may apply for grants to demonstrate energy efficiency and conservation measures or how they are using renewable energy from their farm to meet energy needs. This opportunity is from the Farm Energy Working Group of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, facilitated by the UNI Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE) and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).

"Adopting technologies using on-farm resources for small and mid-sized farms offers many ways for farmers to reduce their energy use," said Kamyar Enshayan, working group leader and CEEE director. Grants awarded last fall compare a vertical axis wind turbine to a conventional three-blade unit, test underground bunkers for drying and cold storage of root crops, and use a biomass furnace to heat a high tunnel greenhouse.

Grants of up to $2,000 to pay for the farmer’s time for installation, administration and report writing will be considered for a farm demonstration project. The grants cannot cover any equipment purchases. No matching dollars are required. Proposal deadline is March 31. 

For more info contact:

Kamyar Enshayan, UNI CEEE, (319) 273-7575, kamyar.enshayan@uni.edu

Rebecca Schultze, UNI Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-6728, Rebecca.schultze@uni.edu

Rich Pirog, Leopold Center Associate Director, (515) 294-3711, rpirog@iastate.edu

Laura Miller, Leopold Center Communications, (515) 294-5272, lwmiller@iastate.edu 

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