Farmers Project Planning Resources
This page starts out by showing you the most recent content from across the CERTs website. Jump to detailed resources.
Farming is a major industry in Minnesota, and one that has many opportunities for saving energy and producing renewable energy.
Farmers Blog Posts
Brittney Bray
Mon, 02/20/2012 - 4:15pm
Environmental Initiative, a nonprofit organization that builds partnerships to develop collaborative solutions to environmental problems, is now accepting applications for the 2012 Environmental Initiative Awards. Projects must be collaborative,...
Joel Haskard
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 5:26pm
As we kick off 2012, we are excited to announce the projects awarded CERTs seed grants in each of the seven Minnesota CERTs regions. Each region awarded $10,000 worth of seed grants, catalyzing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects...
Dan Thiede
Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:58pm
USDA Rural Development is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA’s Rural Energy for...
Farmers Case Studies
As residents of the Midwest know, the growing season is painfully short. When it’s twenty below, what else can you do besides go to the supermarket and buy tomatoes shipped from thousands of miles away? Whitewater Farms in Altura, Minnesota has found a solution. The farm, owned and operated by Sandy and Lonny Dietz, contains a geothermal greenhouse...
Norm and Mary Erickson of Hazelnut Valley Farm retired and started a hazelnut farm in Lake City, MN. Their nutty adventures into the business of growing, harvesting, and processing the crop led them to install a solar-heated greenhouse with many innovative features. They look forward to a future where hazelnuts can be profitably converted into...
Dairy farmers are an industrious group by nature, and farmer and entrepreneur Peter Reese of Goodhue County has eyes for common sense and untapped opportunities. The basic concept of Perpetual Harvest, LLC, came from Peter’s thoughts about how our economy is under-utilizing available and renewable local resources.
Upcoming Farmers Events
Funding & Financing Opportunities
There are various opportunities for funding and financing any clean energy project. CERTs offers a list of funding opportunities currently available in the fields of energy and the environment. Start exploring now! Learn more
Looking for technology resources?
If you’re looking to learn more about a specific technology, like energy efficiency, solar, or wind, we have what you’re looking for. Our technology resources include everything from basic introductions and frequently asked questions to CERTs case studies to recent reports and organizations that can help you go deeper. Learn more
CERTs Supported Projects
CERTs awards mini-grants to community groups for energy efficiency and clean energy projects across Minnesota. We awarded grants in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010. The average amount is $5,000. We have descriptions and maps of all of the projects that we’ve funded. Check them out to see what folks are doing! See projects
Detailed Resources for Farmers
Improving Farm Energy Efficiency: A Guide to Navigating the Process – The Minnesota Project
This guide will help farmers navigate the steps implementing an energy efficiency project would likely take. The guide provides advice on how to become most knowledgeable about the energy use and potential for savings on your farm and how to use this knowledge to cut costs and save energy. The guide also includes a compilation of the best tools and resources for evaluating energy efficiency opportunities.
Energy Efficient Farms: Identifying the Proper Improvements – The Minnesota Project
This guide delves most directly into identifying the types of technologies and conservation practices farmers can use on their operations to help save them money. The document discusses energy efficiency opportunities common to all types of farms, and also includes specific advice for specific types of farm operations. In addition to advice on the best practices, the guide also provides a rundown of analytical tools and utility rebates likely available to interested farmers.
Farm Energy Efficiency Fact Sheets – The Minnesota Project
Farm Energy Efficiency Resource Center – The Minnesota Project
The Minnesota Project’s Farm Energy Efficiency Resource Center contains a collection of the most relevant informational materials relating to on farm energy efficiency. From specific information concerning the most efficient milking pump technology, to do-it-yourself farm energy audit tools, this database can be your one-stop location for all educational documents and technical resources concerning on farm energy efficiency.
Farm Efficiency Service Providers Map – The Minnesota Project
This map features energy auditors, utilities, and grant writers serving Minnesota that can help you with energy conservation and efficiency on your farm.
Clean Energy Resource Teams