This blog is part 2 in our series, 2026 Commercial Rebates from Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative. For a review of part one, click here.

Agricultural and dairy operations are among the most energy-intensive commercial users in rural Iowa. From ventilation and circulation to milk cooling, water heating, and livestock comfort, electricity plays a central role in productivity, animal health, and operating costs. As part of its broader portfolio of commercial rebates, Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) offers a focused set of agriculture rebates from MVEC and dairy rebates from MVEC designed to help farms modernize equipment, reduce energy consumption, and improve long-term efficiency.

This second installment in the 2026 commercial rebates from Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative series provides an overview of the agricultural and dairy incentives outlined in the cooperative’s program materials, with emphasis on ventilation, milking systems, refrigeration, and livestock equipment.

High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) Fans for Livestock Facilities

One of the cornerstone agriculture rebates from MVEC is the incentive for High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) fans. These large-diameter, ceiling-mounted fans are designed to move high volumes of air at low rotational speeds, creating consistent airflow across barns and open-air livestock structures.

The program provides a rebate of $35 per foot of fan diameter for qualifying HVLS fans with a minimum diameter of 10 feet. Research cited in the program notes that maintaining cooler, more stable barn temperatures can increase milk production by up to two pounds per cow while also improving overall animal comfort and reducing heat stress. Beyond productivity, efficient air movement helps control moisture, dust, insects, and odors, supporting better herd health and lower energy ventilation costs compared to traditional high-speed fan arrays.

Dairy Equipment Rebates

Dairy operations have a unique energy profile driven by refrigeration, vacuum systems, and hot water demand. The dairy rebates from MVEC target these major loads with several equipment-specific incentives.

Dairy Heat Reclaimers
Heat reclaimers capture waste heat from refrigeration systems and reuse it to preheat water for cleaning and sanitation. MVEC offers $5 per milking cow for qualifying systems. These technologies can reduce water-heating energy use by 60 to 80 percent, making them one of the most cost-effective upgrades in modern milking parlors.

Milk Pre-Coolers
Pre-coolers lower the temperature of milk before it enters bulk storage tanks, reducing the workload on compressors. The rebate is $4 per milking cow, and typical systems can cut refrigeration energy consumption by 20 to 30 percent. This not only saves electricity but also extends the life of refrigeration equipment.

Variable Speed Dairy Vacuum Pumps
Vacuum systems are essential to milking operations, yet traditional constant-speed pumps often run at full power regardless of demand. MVEC provides $40 per horsepower for variable speed drive (VSD) dairy vacuum pumps. By matching motor speed to real-time airflow requirements, these systems can reduce electricity use by as much as 60 percent.

Scroll Compressors
Refrigeration systems that replace older reciprocating compressors with high-efficiency scroll compressors qualify for a $250 per unit rebate. Scroll compressors are typically 15 to 20 percent more efficient, quieter, and more reliable, contributing to lower operating and maintenance costs.

Automatic (Robotic) Milking Systems
For farms investing in advanced automation, MVEC offers $2,000 per robotic milking system, with up to four systems eligible per calendar year. These systems integrate energy-efficient motors, controls, and cooling equipment while also improving labor efficiency and data-driven herd management.

Ventilation and Circulation Incentives

Ventilation is critical for maintaining healthy temperature, humidity, and air quality levels in livestock buildings. The cooperative’s agriculture rebates from MVEC include incentives for both ventilation and circulation equipment that meet specific efficiency standards.

Ventilation Fans
Rebates are available at $3 per inch of fan blade diameter, provided the fans meet minimum airflow efficiency thresholds verified by BESS Labs. Performance requirements increase with fan size, ensuring that larger fans deliver higher cubic feet per minute per watt.

Circulation Fans
Circulation fans, which help distribute air evenly and prevent stagnant zones, qualify for $1 per inch of blade diameter when they meet thrust-per-kilowatt efficiency standards.

Ventilation Controls

To improve system performance and reduce unnecessary run time, MVEC also offers a $25 rebate for ventilation thermostats and controllers equipped with humidistats. These controls automatically adjust fan operation based on temperature and moisture levels, helping stabilize barn conditions while minimizing energy waste.

Rebates for all ventilation and circulation equipment are capped at $5,000 per account, encouraging comprehensive system upgrades while maintaining program sustainability.

Livestock Watering and Farrowing Equipment

Beyond ventilation and milking systems, MVEC supports efficiency improvements in core livestock infrastructure.

Electric Heated Livestock Waterers
Efficient, well-insulated waterers with low-wattage heating elements (175 watts or less per trough opening) qualify for a $50 rebate per unit. Proper insulation and controlled heating reduce standby losses while ensuring year-round access to unfrozen water.

Farrowing Heating Equipment
For swine operations, rebates are available for energy-efficient heating pads and controllers used in farrowing areas. Incentives include:
• $25 for single-crate heating pads
• $50 for double-crate heating pads
• $50 for heat lamp or pad controllers

These technologies improve piglet survival rates and growth while lowering energy consumption compared to traditional heat lamps.

Strategic Value of MVEC Agricultural and Dairy Rebates

Taken together, the commercial, agriculture, and dairy rebates from MVEC reflect a comprehensive approach to farm energy management. By addressing ventilation, refrigeration, water heating, automation, and animal comfort systems, the program helps producers:

• Reduce peak and annual electricity consumption
  • Improve animal health and productivity
  • Lower operating and maintenance costs
  • Shorten payback periods for capital upgrades
  • Prepare facilities for future efficiency standards and technology integration

As energy prices fluctuate and regulatory pressure on efficiency continues to grow, these rebates provide a practical pathway for agricultural and dairy operations to modernize infrastructure while protecting cash flow. For producers planning upgrades in 2026, early coordination with Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative and qualified contractors can ensure equipment selections meet program requirements and that available incentives are fully captured.

Managing rebate application in-house take up excess resources and manpower that could be used elsewhere. Rebate management experts, like Incentive Rebate360, can help maximize your savings with their years of expertise and simplify the application process. Contact us by calling 480-653-8180, emailing [email protected], or scheduling a call that fits your needs by clicking the button below!