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Irrigator switches on to energy efficiencyBy Larry Dreiling As the American experiment reinvents itself in the midst of challenging times, production agriculture is joining in to change for the better. Energy efficiency is not just a term used by hybrid vehicle drivers and fluorescent bulb users. Producers looking to make good capital investments that will have a lasting impact on their operations are using it, too. As the price of diesel and propane skyrocketed, more irrigators began to take a serious look at a switch--an electrical switch. Changing to electricity for irrigation is proving to be increasingly popular. It's no doubt become more popular since U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development established the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program. Created as part of the 2002 farm bill and further expanded under the 2008 farm bill, the program is designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. Under the provisions of the farm bill, those improvements can be to a facility, building, or process that reduces energy consumption, or reduces energy consumed per square foot. Examples include heating and air conditioning systems, insulation, refrigeration, lighting, irrigation systems, pumping systems, air systems, and motor systems, among others. Ivan Bohl, a Norton County, Kan., producer, is one producer who made the switch to efficiency, receiving grants in spring 2007 to change from gated pipe to pivots for irrigation to two quarters usually planted to corn and soybeans. "The previous tenant on this ground was doing some flood irrigation. There's adequate water in the area but the wells weren't fully developed," Bohl said. "When I took over, I decided the best way to go was with a pivot." Bohl began pricing pivots with several dealers when one of them mentioned federal grant availability. Turns out, all of the dealers he visited mentioned the grant--once he asked about them. "While I was out shopping, I found all the dealers were working to help people with applying for the program," Bohl said. "I didn't buy the pivot from the guy who first mentioned them. I sometimes feel a little bad about that." Bohl purchased two pivots. One originally was powered by propane, while the other was diesel powered. The grant allowed for a switch to an all electric system. The problem was in having proper three-phase wiring to the systems. Somehow, Mother Nature allowed Bohl to get the electric power--and thus the grant--sooner than he expected. "The first year I had the unit with the diesel motor because I didn't have three-phase electrical power out here. It was a little expensive," Bohl said. "We then had an ice storm come through here that knocked down our power lines and they were putting in new lines around here. "I asked about three-phase again and they said if I ever was going to run in a three-phase line, now would be the time to do it. So, I paid extra to run three-phase wiring while they were building it. It wasn't cheap to do it. It cost quite a bit to get the electricity in here. It's worth it, I think. Electricity is about one-third the cost of diesel." The grant paid for 25 percent of the cost of the transition to electric power. "Just in the first year, electricity was far cheaper than diesel. The cost of diesel has gone down quite a bit since last year, but electricity is still cheaper than diesel. Plus, you don't have as much service work compared to diesel," Bohl said. What made it easy for Bohl to make the switch was the help of his area USDA-RA field specialist, Brandon Prough. Based at the USDA-RA office in Hays, Kan., Prough helped Bohl navigate through the paperwork of a grant request. "I thought it would be more difficult than it was. It wasn't that bad to fill out the forms," Bohl said. "Brandon was there to help with answering questions. There is some paperwork you have to do just like any other government program, but it wasn't a whole lot worse than signing up for farm programs." One change to the typical modern pivot irrigation system Bohl made was to use a different type of tire for reduced soil impact. "My big beef with pivots is I get them stuck," Bohl said. "So I added some different tires, big military surplus tires. So far, these are working pretty good. They came off trucks used in Iraq and were hardly used when I got them. They're real heavy ply and run off low pressure, about five pounds, so they don't cause many problems. "The tires have a wider track to them but they don't seem to make near as deep a rut as regular pivot tires. The only problem is they may spin out on me. I've had that happen once since I've had it." Bohl will be converting the pivots to full no-till after this year. "I'm already no-till on one of the pivots. The other, I'm wanting to rip it," Bohl said. "I'm thinking there might be a hard pan there from all the years of runoff it's had. I've mentioned it to my chemical guy who said at first I shouldn't; then he turned around and said I should." Bohl will have to file a report with USDA-RD for the next few years for statistical purposes showing how much energy he's used compared to use averages of more recent adopters. "I think it is really a reasonable request to do that," Bohl said. "What has me concerned is that the new administration has people in it talking about adding an energy tax. I could see our costs double or triple. I don't want that to happen. That's just my opinion." While new taxes are not in sight for now, Bohl knows for sure the first year of electrically-powered irrigation, created through a federal grant, was a huge savings over the year before when his pivots were controlled by diesel and propane. "The whole thing is about saving energy," Bohl said. "It's also about saving money, too." Larry Dreiling can be reached by phone at 785-628-1117 or by e-mail at ldreiling@aol.com.
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