GLENDORA — Mike Sturdivant III is no stranger to change.
After five generations of growing cotton in Glendora, a nematode infestation on the cotton plants in the mid-1990s prompted the family to add corn to the cotton and soybean mix at Due West Plantation.
In addition to tweaking the farm’s crop rotation, Sturdivant and his four siblings recently changed the mix of technologies powering the water pumps used for irrigation.
When a water recovery system required installation of new electric motors and upgrading from single-phase to three-phase electricity, the family decided to switch six of its diesel-powered units to electric motors.
The farm’s Entergy representative advised him that he could save money by switching the wells near the power line from diesel to electric power.
“The cost of running electric wells is much cheaper,” Sturdivant said, “even despite lower diesel prices.”
Some of the wells were already on electricity, some were on propane, and others were on diesel.
“I was looking at buying additional diesel motors we needed elsewhere on the farm,” Sturdivant noted. As it turns out, he explained, “it was more cost effective to convert our existing motors to electric than to buy new diesel engines.”
Due West initially bought six, 60-horsepower, three-phase electric motors to use with the water recovery project. The farm later converted two more diesel-powered engines to electric motors.
The biggest benefit is the cost savings.
“Now that I’ve had a chance to look at the numbers and what it costs to operate the electric motors, I’ve found that it's about 1.8 times cheaper to run electric than diesel,” Sturdivant said.
Another benefit is that by placing the meter pole and switch boxes close to the road, he can cut the power on or off at the highway, without having to go out into the field.
Less maintenance is also a plus.
With diesel, he added, “you’re continually transporting diesel out to the field and collecting the used oil into another tank for recycling. With electric, it’s just a much cleaner, nicer operation.”
Although Due West paid to have the power lines placed underground, Entergy covers the cost for overhead power, so long as the project falls within the scope of the utility’s line extension policy.
With close to 100 wells on the plantation, Sturdivant said Due West will be looking to do more electric conversions in the future.
“We’re better off because we’re saving energy on a daily basis,” he noted. “It didn’t cost me any more to make the switch to electric motors, but my savings are a lot greater.”
To other farmers, Sturdivant offers this advice: “Ask about this program. Find out how much more cost efficient you could be by tapping into this program. It’s been a great opportunity to partner with Entergy in a way that is good for the utility and good for us.”
For more information on the Entergy Electric Conversion Program, visit the website at Entergy.com/GoelectricMs or call 1-844-44WELLS (1-844-449-3557) and mention Savings10.
The Entergy Electric Conversion Program is available to farmers with irrigation wells located within Entergy’s service area in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
JP Stewart is a Mississippi-based field representative for the Entergy Electric Conversion Program.
IN THE PHOTO: Glendora farmer Mike Sturdivant (left) meets with Mississippi-based Entergy Electric Conversion Program field representative JP Stewart. (Photo by Matthew Borkoski Photography)
