USDA Grants Available to Assist with Energy Efficiency Improvements to Poultry Houses

SUBJECT: USDA Grants Available to Assist with Energy Efficiency Improvements to Poultry Houses

TO: State Poultry Organizations

FROM: Bennie Hutchins, Energy Program Coordinator

Enclosed is information about the Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants program that we encourage you to share with poultry producers in your state. Many of your producers are continually making improvements to their poultry houses that result in energy conservation, as well as enhancement of production efficiency. Growers may qualify for a USDA grant to pay for 25% of the cost of these improvements.

Over the past 8 years we have assisted more nearly 200 poultry producers from 8 states in securing grants for more than $7 million! A recent evaluation of 40 producers that participated in this program over the past several years revealed that they have been able to reduce their annual electricity consumption by 6% and their annual propane consumption by 41%. This grant program, with its resulting Energy Audit and retrofits, is for real! Don’t let your growers miss out on this opportunity.

USDA-Rural Development is now receiving applications for 2011 funding. No application deadline has yet been announced, but producers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible while funds are still available. Improvements that are eligible for funding assistance includes any work to make the houses tighter and better insulated (walls, doors, ceilings), improved brooders (radiant, direct-spark or tube), lighting, computer controllers, vent doors, curtain improvements, interior stir fans, exhaust fan replacement with more efficient fans, water/drinking systems, baffles, insulated brood curtains, etc.

As representatives of the poultry industry and of contract producers/growers in your state, you are one of the best networks we have to get information on availability of these grants out to your state’s poultry producers.

Please distribute the enclosed 1-page flyer to your member/growers and to representatives of poultry companies in your state, especially the Production Managers. Another key network in getting this information to growers are your poultry supply contractors and vendors. If you have a data-base of those contractors that you can provide to use, we will be glad to distribute this same information for their use.

Make additional copies as needed. If you would like to receive this flyer in digital format, email your request to AER@msrcd.org and one will be emailed to you. Also consider converting it into a Press Release for use in your organization’s newsletter, or in whatever other media outlet you feel appropriate.

Once growers are informed, those that are considering poultry house upgrades can then call or email our office and we will email or mail them a complete Applicant Information Package. However, funding approval is not a guarantee, but approval rate for our clients is over 90%, or double the national average. Interested producers need to get in contact with us as soon as possible, but at least a minimum of 15 days before they plan to start their improvements.

Note that any expenses incurred by the applicant/grower prior to the date that the grant application is received in the state office of Rural Development will not eligible for reimbursement. Applicants may begin the improvements as soon as we are able to complete their grant application and turn it in to Rural Development state office...at their own risk, of course.

If you have any questions, please call me at 601-748-2622 or email me at AER@msrcd.org. Thanks for your help in getting the word out to your poultry producers!