The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is offering grants to help agricultural operations reduce energy costs.

According to a news release, the department has developed a $3 million Energize Missouri Agriculture Program to provide cost-share grants to eligible applicants.

The program reimburses agricultural operations up to 75 percent of the purchase cost of qualifying cost-saving energy-efficient equipment and systems – up to $7,500 per applicant. Items eligible for reimbursement include purchased energy cost-saving equipment and hardware, but does not include time and labor spent installing or operating the equipment.

Applicants should begin the process of preparing the application packet as soon as possible. Funding is limited, and complete applications will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications must contain all required documentation before they will be stamped with the time and date of receipt for purposes of determining positions in the first-come, first-served list.

Successful applicants will be required to sign an agreement with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, laying out the terms and conditions of the program. Purchases made before an agreement is signed, dated and returned to the department by the applicant will not qualify for reimbursement. Purchases only qualify after the recipient’s signed agreement is approved and the recipient receives an approval letter from the department to proceed.

You can learn more and apply at dnr.mo.gov <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAxMjguNTI1MTk0NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Ruci5tby5nb3YvZW5lcmd5L2xvYW5zL2VuZXJnaXplLW1pc3NvdXJpLWFncmljdWx0dXJlLXByb2dyYW0_dXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX25hbWU9JnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkmdXRtX3Rlcm09In0.cYhEU4SiNw7SdkShOraiX_TYB_8EHt5TaOVOCeP3Dyg/s/2134848642/br/125802524067-l>.