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State grants to help fund farmer switch from diesel to electric irrigation

Delaware Public Media

The state and the Delaware Electric Co-op are offering some assistance to farmers willing to switch their irrigation equipment from diesel to electric power.

The Delaware Agriculture Department will pay up to $5,000 to help First State farmers install electric irrigation pivots and the Delaware Electric Co-op will pay an additional up to $5,000 toward the cost of running electric to the new pivots.

Delaware’s General Assembly set aside about $500,000 for the program back in June. Ag officials say there are about 500 diesel irrigation systems still remaining throughout the state.

Delaware Ag Secretary Michael Scuse says the state hopes the grants will help to reduce emissions but he adds it’s also a good financial move for farmers in the long term, as they stand to save in energy costs.

“With very little rainfall coming to the state from July to present day, these irrigation systems have been running constantly for a long period of time now and there’s been a huge cost associated with that,” said Scuse.   

To qualify, farmers must be served by Delaware Electric and the new systems must have a minimum 20 kilowatt load.

Delaware Farm Bureau President Richard Wilkins says without the grants the cost of converting to electric infrastructure wouldn’t be worth the investment for many farmers.

“This grant program surely helps to defray part of the expense of the infrastructure and will hopefully encourage those farmers to convert and help the environment at the same time.”   

Farmers receiving grants can also opt-in to a load control program, which allows the Co-op to cycle-off power to irrigation units during peak energy usage times.

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