Conservation Partnership Efforts
Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) in Cooperation with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
Throughout Louisiana farmers are utilizing pumping plants and irrigation systems, but do we know just how efficient these pumps are operating on the farm? Are they saving farmers energy, fuel and expense while at the same time operating at peak performance? With the cost of fuel and energy on the rise, testing the operational efficiency of pumping plants and irrigation systems will provide recommendations for energy conservation, reduced fuel consumption and more efficient production of irrigation water.The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with Louisiana State University Ag-Center, is now offering a new tool to landowners, which is designed to help find ways to increase efficiency of irrigation systems. NRCS Pumping Plant and Irrigation System Efficiency Evaluation Unit is a mobile unit that can be driven on site to test irrigations systems, providing producers with data to help them achieve maximum overall efficiency for water production and energy conservation.
“Louisiana State University and NRCS are working in partnership together to better serve producers across Louisiana to conserve water and energy." said NRCS State Engineer Ed Giering.A flow meter is utilized to determine the amount of fuel consumption for diesel power plants, and the electric meter is read to determine to power consumption for electric power plants. A flow meter is utilized to gauge the amount discharge from the pumping plant. These measurements are used to evaluate energy input and output of the pumping plant to determine an overall efficiency. Knowing the efficiency of the pumping plant, information can be provided to the landowner that can assist them in improving their pumping efficiency, potentially saving energy and reducing the cost per unit of irrigation water pumped. Also knowing the actual pumping rate will allow the landowner to more effectively manage the application of the irrigation water.There are numerous benefits to using the Unit.
NRCS Pumping Plant and Irrigation System Efficiency Evaluation Unit
“First, by measuring flows, producers will be provided with data showing the amount of water the pump is producing," said Giering. "Secondly, landowners will know if and how efficiently their pump is operating and lastly the Unit can be used to determine how efficiently the pump power plant (natural gas engine, electric motor, or diesel engine) is operating." “NRCS will also provide recommendations to producers regarding the speed that they should operate their drivers to ensure efficient fuel consumption," said Giering.
In most cases, the producer will receive results from NRCS at the time of the site visit, as well as, learn about steps and measure that can be taken to improve operational performance. In the future, NRCS will be able to provide customers with a print-out of the efficiency evaluation that will include annual savings on site. The Unit is already being utilized in the state and has evaluated 12 wells and two bayou pumps Southwest Louisiana and 12 wells in Northeast Louisiana.“Conserving energy and water consumption is just a taste of what NRCS is doing throughout Louisiana to help people help the land,” said Giering. “This active mobile unit is a giant step in water and energy conservation on the farm.”NRCS is now taking applications from producer who would like to have their pumping plants evaluated. If you are interested in this service you should contact your local field office. Please visit NRCS on the web to locate a field office near you at: www.la.nrcs.usda.gov http://www.la.nrcs.usda.gov/.
“Louisiana State University and NRCS are working in partnership together to better serve producers across Louisiana to conserve water and energy." said NRCS State Engineer Ed Giering.A flow meter is utilized to determine the amount of fuel consumption for diesel power plants, and the electric meter is read to determine to power consumption for electric power plants. A flow meter is utilized to gauge the amount discharge from the pumping plant. These measurements are used to evaluate energy input and output of the pumping plant to determine an overall efficiency. Knowing the efficiency of the pumping plant, information can be provided to the landowner that can assist them in improving their pumping efficiency, potentially saving energy and reducing the cost per unit of irrigation water pumped. Also knowing the actual pumping rate will allow the landowner to more effectively manage the application of the irrigation water.There are numerous benefits to using the Unit.
NRCS Pumping Plant and Irrigation System Efficiency Evaluation Unit
“First, by measuring flows, producers will be provided with data showing the amount of water the pump is producing," said Giering. "Secondly, landowners will know if and how efficiently their pump is operating and lastly the Unit can be used to determine how efficiently the pump power plant (natural gas engine, electric motor, or diesel engine) is operating." “NRCS will also provide recommendations to producers regarding the speed that they should operate their drivers to ensure efficient fuel consumption," said Giering.
In most cases, the producer will receive results from NRCS at the time of the site visit, as well as, learn about steps and measure that can be taken to improve operational performance. In the future, NRCS will be able to provide customers with a print-out of the efficiency evaluation that will include annual savings on site. The Unit is already being utilized in the state and has evaluated 12 wells and two bayou pumps Southwest Louisiana and 12 wells in Northeast Louisiana.“Conserving energy and water consumption is just a taste of what NRCS is doing throughout Louisiana to help people help the land,” said Giering. “This active mobile unit is a giant step in water and energy conservation on the farm.”NRCS is now taking applications from producer who would like to have their pumping plants evaluated. If you are interested in this service you should contact your local field office. Please visit NRCS on the web to locate a field office near you at: www.la.nrcs.usda.gov http://www.la.nrcs.usda.gov/.
Staff Contact: Ed Giering, State Conservation Engineer
Phone:(318) 473-7673 FAX: (318) 473-7750
NRCS Civil Engineer Brad Sticker collecting data
NRCS Technician Shannon Walters measuring volume of fuel
NRCS Civil Engineer Mike Kennedy collecting data on water flow and volume
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