USDA hampers Farm energy production

Good afternoon Secretary Conner-

Farm energy production are practices that every ag producer and rural community member can review, then select the best one(s) for their situation.

A natural point to start this review is the Energy Types webpage. The links from the types- such as "anaerobic digester"- go to generic splash pages (in this case, to "Welcome to USDA Rural Development's Electric Programs") that are completely disconnected from the "energy type" link. "

"Muddying the water" seems to be the purpose of the "splash pages;" the producer or resident is left to randomly try "headers" on the chance that something relevant is behind them. Information overload" is increased to the point of leaving the page, angry that promised knowledge on the "energy type" became a "bait and switch" tactic.

More frightening is the thought that the mis-direction was intended, that USDA merely is "running farm energy production up the flagpole" to give the appearance of "being on-board" the national energy security bandwagon.

From the Electric Programs "splash page" is a Renewable Energy link which at first glance, holds promise. More links; perhaps Renewable Energy Technology Resources has something on "anaerobic digesters." Ah, another page of links-

Wind, Solar, Biomass, Geothermal, Hydrogen, Energy Efficiency, and Electric Utility Interconnection. There- Anaerobic Digesters - AgSTAR Program- in Biomass. Excellent! (If you notice the logo and page layout change, you'll see we're now at the EPA. Farm energy production and pollution reduction/management go "hand-in-hand," for this technology, anyhow.)

The AgSTAR Program is a voluntary effort jointly sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Which means there are three sources of funds for planning and installing your anaerobic digester, three different set of paperwork, and three different sets of regulations and requirements to comply with. (No one said farm energy production was gonna be easy.)

Naturally there's a link list to provide more information on the AgSTAR Program:

Basic Information
Accomplishments
Experts & Industry Directory
Documents Tools and Resources
Workshops/Conferences and
Guide to Operational Systems.

USDA can develop simple link-lists that carry the farmer, rancher, community leader, or lender, from the "energy type" to a specific description (no more than two paragraphs are needed) of what it is and how it can be used in farm energy production.

From there the method (such as "energy efficiency") or technology is briefly described as well. Slash verbiage to provide only information on what is "on the shelf" now; save the research results and vision and mission statements for the land grant colleges.

Following the "what" and "where" is "how;" tell the producer or the town official the steps s/he should expect to take to be a successful farm energy producer. Most of the steps can be made visible for easy understanding and planning; the remaining few can be made known to extension and/or technical professionals for their implementation guidance.

(Lists of these contacts should be highlighted and linked- {don't "nest" links} for easiest way-finding- in the steps.Their knowledge and time are valuable and has to be focused on only those "nuts that are tough to crack.")

"Energy types" link lists need to eliminate "information overload" by delivering the specific information that has been "headlined." Doing that will enable producers and town officials to transform the "bread basket of the world" into America's "energy basket."

Title IX of the 2002 "farm bill" established the precedent-

--new programs and grants for procurement of biobased products
--support development of biorefineries
--educate the public about benefits of biodiesel fuel use
--assist eligible farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses in purchasing renewable energy systems and
reauthorizes and broadens the bioenergy program.

Site map-like linklists support efficiency in putting the precedent to work in the 2007 "farm bill" Title IX Energy.