Colorado State University’s new Center for Agricultural Energy is now accepting applications for irrigation efficiency audits for agricultural producers in north-central and northeastern Colorado. The cost of these audits is $250 per producer, reduced from $1,000 through a US Department of Agriculture grant.
Each audit will assess the efficiency of up to three center pivot pumps per site. The audit includes determination of flow rate, static water level, pumping level and energy use; estimated costs of recommended upgrade(s); estimated savings from upgrade(s); payback periods of upgrade(s); and a written report to the producer.
The audits will make participating producers eligible for USDA grant funds to implement the recommendations, with various options for financing and performing the upgrades.
Applications can be found and submitted online at www.ext.colostate.edu/cae/audits.html or can be requested by contacting Cary Weiner at 970-491-3784. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and applicants will be contacted about their status within two weeks of submission.
The mission of the CAE is to improve the financial positions of agricultural producers and rural Colorado communities while providing solutions to 21st century energy problems. Fifteen CAE-affiliated staff and faculty are currently conducting agricultural energy audits, outreach and research.
More information about the CAE can be found at www.cae.colostate.edu.