A local farmer was recently recognized was recently recognized for his participation in a Missouri grant program.
Thomas Stuart is a farmer from New Bloomfield who participated in Energize Missouri Agriculture. This is a $3 million grant program that emphasizes energy efficiency cost-sharing. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Energy administered the program.
This grant helps farmers become more energy efficient and profitable with their operations by providing reimbursements for energy saving and renewable energy equipment.
Stuart received $7,500 from the grant program to purchase a drone for his farm. This will help identify soil moisture and soil health, while also providing other points of data. The drone will monitor the entire farm area, and will save Stuart on fuel, energy and time.
Governor Mike Parson said in a press release the program is very helpful for farmers, and energy efficiency is important to sustainable agriculture.
"We're proud of this program and our farmers, like Thomas Stuart, who implement innovative solutions that reduce energy and input costs and move Missouri agriculture forward," Parson said in the release.
The grant program also provided up to $7,500 for a total of 441 projects to reduce energy costs on agricultural operations and farms.