Hmong poultry producers in southwestern Missouri have an opportunity to learn about improving their farms' energy efficiency at a workshop in Fairview, Mo, on April 25. In partnership with the USDA and Missouri Department of Agriculture, EnSave, Inc. is hosting an energy efficiency workshop at the Fairview Hall.
The workshop is focused on assisting the Hmong poultry farming community in southwestern Missouri and will kick off at 1 p.m. Topics for the energy efficiency workshop include understanding farm energy use, increasing energy efficiency in poultry operations and accessing financial assistance for energy efficiency improvements. Mitchell Graves, EnSave's training coordinator, will be leading the energy efficiency portion of the workshop. "The Hmong have a strong tradition of poultry farming and they have worked hard to buy their own farms and settle in Missouri," Graves said. "There are a lot of projects to be done on the farm to save fuel costs, and this event will be a great resource for producers interested in those opportunities."
During the workshop, producers will have the opportunity to discuss funding opportunities with representatives from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Rural Development and the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority. "USDA is making a concerted effort to engage historically underserved groups, such as Hmong, "said Rebecca MacLeod, national energy efficiency liaison for USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service. "This event will provide some good information for this community to improve their operations and learn more about the resources available through the federal government."
Attendees will also be able to receive personalized guidance during one-on-one conversations with experts during the four hour event.
This workshop is made possible by the Missouri Agricultural Energy Savings Team - a Revolutionary Opportunity program, an energy efficiency program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and administered by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the University of Missouri and EnSave, Inc.
The Missouri Agricultural Energy Savings Team - a Revolutionary Opportunity program was created to strengthen the financial viability of Missouri's livestock producers through energy efficiency. Since its launch in January 2011, the program has helped hundreds of Missouri livestock producers receive energy audits and implement energy efficiency improvements on their farms and in their farm homes. The workshop helps to sustain the mission of the program by empowering the Hmong community to make their farms as energy efficient as possible.