EQIP On-Farm Energy Initiative

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) On-Farm Energy Initiative helps farmers and ranchers make voluntary improvements that can boost energy efficiency on the farm. This emerging agricultural trend produces benefits, including reduced input costs, increased productivity per unit of energy consumed by equipment and lighting, and reduced air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions caused when energy is generated for agricultural use.

Financial assistance is available to inventory and analyze farm systems that use energy and identify opportunities to improve efficiency through the development of an Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP). The AgEMP, or energy audit, is completed by NRCS-certified Technical Service Providers (TSPs) and provides:

• Itemized energy use by individual systems to establish a baseline for electricity and other fuel improvements,

• Recommendations for equipment improvements and upgrades,

• Potential energy reductions and financial savings for each recommendation

• Cost estimates of potential improvements, and

• Length of expected payback for energy efficiency upgrades

Once an AgEMP or other qualifying energy audit has been completed, eligible producers can apply for EQIP assistance for the purchase, installation, or retrofit of certain buildings or equipment to improve energy efficiency. ** Examples of items eligible for energy efficiency improvements include**:

• Lighting

• Plate coolers

• Ventilation and fans

• Irrigation pumps

• Grain dryers

• Greenhouse improvements

• Maple syrup evaporators

• Heating and refrigeration units

• Insulation and building envelope sealing

• Motor controls and variable speed drive

Once an Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP) or other qualifying energy audit has been completed, eligible producers can apply for EQIP assistance for the purchase, installation, or retrofit of certain buildings or equipment to improve energy efficiency. 

Applications for EQIP​ financial assistance are accepted throughout the year. Specific deadlines are set for ranking and funding opportunities within each state. The best way to learn if EQIP is a good fit for you is by contacting your local NRCS office. If you choose to move forward, your local NRCS conservationist will guide you through applying for the program.

• NRCS Energy Page