Published: October 02, 2009 10:20 pm      

Farm Focus In Brief: 10/03/2009

\

ELLSWORTH -- Two area farms will get a boost with federal grants.

Rubingh's Dairyland in Ellsworth and Home Comfort Farms in Johannesburg were awarded thousands of grant dollars as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program. U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, announced the grant awards on Wednesday.

Rubingh's Dairyland in Antrim County received two grants that total $24,570 to replace pumps and compressors to reduce electrical consumption and to install a wood biomass heating system for daily operations.

Home Comfort Farms in Otsego County received a $3,015 grant to install a 1.2-kilowatt wind turbine generator.

Federal REAP grants can be used for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies and energy audits.