Alberta Irrigation Efficiency Program

The purpose of the Alberta Irrigation Efficiency Program is to assist Alberta’s agricultural producers with the purchase of energy-efficient, low pressure centre pivot irrigation (LPCP) equipment, or to upgrade existing high-pressure centre pivot irrigation equipment to LPCP irrigation equipment to increase energy efficiency.

Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, an applicant must own an irrigated agricultural operation in Alberta, and must not have already been confirmed as being eligible for the Program, or approved for payment from the Program.

The Eligible Costs for the Program are the costs for any of the following:

A	One or more pieces of LPCP Equipment purchased by the applicant and installed at the applicant’s operation as part of a new LPCP System or an upgrade to an LPCP System; plus costs of design and installation;
B	One or more LPCP Pump Modifications purchased by the applicant and installed at the applicant’s operation as part of an upgrade to an LPCP System; plus costs of installation;
C	A pivot control panel upgrade (including base stations for telemetry) purchased by the applicant and installed at the applicant’s operation, plus costs of installation.

Equipment must be new and purchased from a licensed irrigation supply dealer, and any installation may only be done by a licensed service provider. The cost of delivery and GST are not eligible. The eligible equipment must have been purchased by the applicant after April 1, 2008. (Note that applicants are required to install the equipment within six months after submitting the application.)

No cost is eligible for this Program if it has been funded (or approved for funding) by a federal program (e.g. Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA)) or a provincial program.

As funding for the Program is limited to $200,000 per fiscal year for three years (2008/09, 2009/10, and 2010/11), not all
eligible applications will be accepted. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.