Rural-E

Robert Wallace
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Telling the real stories of rural energy; connecting farmers, small businesses, conservation partners, and funders through authentic conversations and practical insights.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Drought, Pumps, and the Money Nobody Budgets For

    You've probably driven past it a hundred times — a big gun throwing water a hundred feet in the air, or a wheel line running on a breezy afternoon. Look closely and you can see the droplets drifting sideways. That's not just water leaving the field. That's electricity you already paid for. This week we sit down with Brad Moore, a Certified Energy Manager who spends his days walking farms and ranches across the Pacific Northwest finding exactly that kind of waste. With 19 of Oregon's 36 counties under a state drought declaration and power costs climbing every year, there's not much room left for water that never reaches the crop. Brad walks us through where the energy actually goes on a farm, what upgrades are worth the money, and — maybe most importantly — who might help pay for them. WHAT WE COVER Why the irrigation pump is the single biggest electrical load on most operationsWhen consolidating or right-sizing a pump beats every other upgrade you could makeVariable frequency drives: what they actually do, and when they pay offDrip, center pivot, wheel line — what "application efficiency" really meansLESA and LEPA: dropping sprinklers closer to the ground to cut pressureThe brass-versus-plastic sprinkler debate, and why rotators hold up in windMid-season fixes you can still make this year: gaskets, nozzles, sprinkler swapsWhere the money is: utility rebates, NRCS EQIP, conservation districts, USDA REAPThe pre-approval mistake that disqualifies farmers from funding every single yearWhy "looking across the fence" is still the most persuasive tool in agricultureONE THING TO TAKE AWAY Talk to a funding program before you break ground. Several have pre-approval requirements, and starting work early is the fastest way to leave money on the table. AND ONE NUMBER According to the Hydraulic Institute, the purchase price of a typical medium-sized pumping system is only about 10 percent of what it costs over its life. Roughly 40 percent is energy. The pump you bought thirty years ago is still billing you every month. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to the Rural E Podcast  01:08 Meet Brad Moore, Certified Energy Manager  01:28 From Oregon State to agricultural energy efficiency  04:00 Where the electricity actually goes on a farm  09:12 What's changed in ten years: VFDs and the water-energy nexus  10:18 Drip and center pivots: more efficient, but a big price tag  11:45 Oregon's drought by the numbers  12:51 Water efficiency versus energy efficiency, explained  14:17 Watching your water blow away  17:34 What you can still fix this irrigation season  21:20 Brass impacts versus plastic rotators  22:24 Looking across the fence: field tours and word of mouth  26:32 Paying for it: utility rebates and cost share  29:09 NRCS EQIP, conservation districts, and USDA REAP  33:30 Apply before you build  34:54 Old pumps, mismatched systems  35:52 The 10 percent rule  37:31 Closing thoughts ABOUT THE SHOW Real stories from real people working in rural energy. We talk to the farmers, ranchers, engineers, and program folks doing the actual work. No politics — just what works and what doesn't. IN THIS EPISODE Host: Robert Wallace Co-host: Michael Kluz Guest: Brad Moore

  2. Aug 5

    The Electric Tractor That Saved Harvest During a Power Outage

    How do you power an entire working vineyard without diesel? Solar panels, an all-electric fleet, and a whole lot of experimentation. In this episode of the Rural-E Podcast, hosts Robert and Maia sit down with Garett Long, Director of Agriculture at Troon Vineyard & Farm in Oregon's Applegate Valley — the only farm in the world to hold both Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) Gold certification. Garett walks us through Troon's journey from a diesel-powered operation to a nearly 100% solar-powered farm running on electric vehicles — and shares the real, unfiltered results of testing early electric tractors (Solectrac and Monarch) through the eFarms program. No politics. Just what's actually working on the farm, and what isn't. In this episode: How Troon became the world's only Biodynamic + ROC Gold certified farm The 153 kW solar array that makes all their vehicle charging free Real-world reviews of electric tractors: SelecTrac vs. Monarch The unforgettable story of the Monarch tractor saving a wine bottling run during a surprise power outage Range, torque, compaction, and charging — the honest pros and cons Why local service and repair is the #1 barrier to electric equipment in rural areas Fuel savings, maintenance costs, and total cost of ownership The regenerative practices behind it all: no-till, cover crops, 300 tons of compost, sheep, chickens & biodiversity Chapters 00:00 – Intro & meet Garrett Long 01:32 – From "The Biggest Little Farm" to Troon 05:35 – Becoming Biodynamic + ROC Gold certified 09:13 – How energy fits into their farming goals 12:04 – Touring the electric fleet: Gators, Polaris, ATV & forklift 15:01 – Charging everything with on-site solar 18:08 – Compaction, weight & range on electric equipment 29:38 – Testing the SelecTrac electric tractor 34:00 – The Monarch tractor: first impressions & real use 41:51 – How the Monarch saved the day during a power outage 49:38 – Would they buy a name-brand electric tractor? 54:37 – Fuel savings, economics & rural culture 59:13 – Diesel usage by the numbers 1:05:40 – Regenerative practices at Troon 1:11:59 – Final thoughts: "Just try it"

  3. Jul 23

    From a 100-Year-Old Farmhouse to Electric Tractors: Our Rural Energy Story

    Welcome to the very first episode of the Rural-E Podcast — where rural energy, innovation, and efficiency meet the real stories of the people making it happen. Hosts Robert Wallace, a certified energy manager with 16+ years in the rural energy space, and co-host Michael Kluz sit down to share how they got here and where they're headed. From a 100-year-old farmhouse in Dufur, Oregon, they dig into the work that rarely gets told: helping farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses become more efficient, more resilient, and ready for what's next. In this episode: How a one-year "farm energy" job turned into a 16-year mission Michael's wild first day on the job — a road trip to Montana to show off an electric tractor What USDA REAP grants are and how they fund solar, irrigation, and energy efficiency projects "Fund stacking" — how rural producers combine grants and utility dollars to get projects across the finish line Agrivoltaics, electric farm equipment, and the energy-water nexus Why rural communities are quietly at the forefront of emerging energy technology Whether you're a farmer, a rural business owner, or just curious about the future of energy, Rural-E is here to share the stories, the innovation, and the lessons from the field. #RuralEnergy #Agrivoltaics #FarmInnovation #RenewableEnergy #ElectricTractor #USDA #EnergyEfficiency #RuralAmerica #SustainableFarming #CleanEnergy

  • 3 Episodes

About

Telling the real stories of rural energy; connecting farmers, small businesses, conservation partners, and funders through authentic conversations and practical insights.

Information

  • Creator
    Robert Wallace
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rural-E