Friday, December 19, 2014

$2.9 million offered for Manure Management Technologies

Thank you to longtime MHC sponsor The Equiery for posting this on their blog.

$2.9 million offered for Manure Management Technologies

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for demonstration projects from vendors, businesses, and individuals offering technologies, equipment, infrastructure, or services that can improve the management and utilization of manure and other agricultural resources.
Maryland’s nutrient management regulations govern the amount, timing, and placement of crop nutrients—including manure and other organic nutrient sources—on agricultural land to prevent excess nutrients from impacting waterways. To help livestock producers comply with these regulations, Maryland supports and invests in alternative uses for manure such as fertilizer manufacturing, composting and manure-to-energy projects that add value to the farm business model.
MDA has $2.9 million available to invest in these types of innovative technologies during State Fiscal Year 2015, which ends June 30, 2015.Vendors, businesses, and individuals are invited to respond to this RFP; click here to download the RFP.
If you have questions about the program, contact Louise Lawrence at the Maryland Department of Agriculture at louise.lawrence@maryland.gov.
Deadline for proposals is March 6, 2015.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Energy Efficiency Funding for Horse Farms

The 2015 Kathleen A. P. Mathias Agriculture Energy Efficiency Program

This program is dedicated to the memory of Kathleen Arlee "Kathy" Petry Mathias of Ocean City, who passed away in 2011. The wife of Maryland State Senator James N. Mathias Jr., Kathy was an inexhaustible advocate for Maryland’s Eastern Shore and its farming community.
What is the program?
What are the project requirements?
How do I apply?

Subject to funding availability, MEA will provide grants to farms/businesses in the agriculture sector to cover up to 50% of the cost of energy efficiency and/or renewable energy upgrades after all other incentives have been applied.
For more information, read ourProgram Description.

  • Only energy efficiency projects, or projects that combine energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, are eligible for funding. 
  • Projects consisting of renewable energy measures only are not eligible for funding under this program. 
  • All energy measures must be installed before November 1, 2015.
  • Each project, which can consist of multiple energy measures, needs to be cost effective in aggregate.
See our Program Description for more info.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, January 30, 2015.
(Right-click and 'Save Link As' to download)
Questions? See our Application Information Q&A to assist you with completing the best application possible for this competitive program.

Upcoming Informational Sessions

MEA will hold two informational webinars on this grant program:
  • 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 7, 2015
  • 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 22, 2015
For an invitation please contact Erin Kelly (erin.kelly@maryland.gov) and indicate which webinar you would like to attend.

Additional Information

If you have any questions about this program, please submit them to Program Manager Dean Fisher (dean.fisher@maryland.gov) or EnSave, an MEA subcontractor supporting the Mathia Agriculture program.