Farms are often full of opportunities to reduce energy use through efficiency measures that save money, labor, and maintenance costs. Energy efficiency also helps buffer farms from volatile, high costs in energy market fluctuations. In addition to these benefits, farm energy efficiency is an important part of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, reducing emissions and making it easier to transition to electric power and renewable energy. Energy inputs are required at every stage of farm production – from soil preparation and harvesting crops, to heating and lighting livestock housing. Farms can get substantial energy savings and enhance productivity through equipment maintenance, fine-tuning equipment and fertilizer rates, improving building efficiency, and installing high-efficiency motors or lighting when old equipment needs to be replaced.

What is Ag Energy NY?
Ag Energy NY is a program by Cornell Cooperative Extension, developing a resource hub to support farm energy efficiency in New York. AgEnergyNY.org includes mobile-friendly webpages and print-friendly factsheets to help farmers learn about potential energy use and savings specific to their farm sector. Ag Energy NY focuses on the following farm sectors: crops and vegetables, beef, swine, poultry, grain drying, maple, orchards, berries, and vineyards. Ag Energy NY is part of a broader NYSERDA program, Energy Best Practices in Agriculture, which also provides support for dairy and greenhouse operations.

Technology content for Ag Energy NY was developed by Daylight Savings Company based on their experience conducting agricultural energy audits in New York since 1991, along with review of technical references, peer-reviewed research, and industry standards. Other program content, such as web development and outreach materials, are developed and reviewed by extension educators, NYSERDA staff, and engineers with a focus on farm energy efficiency.

After reviewing energy efficiency measures online, you can reach out to our team with questions and to connect with a NYSERDA FlexTech Consultant for farm-specific advising. NYSERDA offers no-cost, no-commitment energy assessments to help farmers prioritize areas for improvements and identify incentives to help with implementation. To get started, visit www.agenergyny.org.