JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri farmers will soon be able to tap a $5 million federal grant to help reduce energy costs at their farms and homes.

The statewide program will be formally announced Jan. 21 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City.

Farmers will be offered energy audits that cost $1,500 per farm and $500 per home. They can recover those costs from the federal grant once they make improvements in energy efficiency.

University of Missouri Extension agents estimate the Missouri Agricultural Energy Savings program -- or EnSave for short -- will save farmers $500 to $600 a month.

The program is designed for livestock and poultry farms that are too small to receive a confined animal feeding operation permit. Officials hope to have 300 farms in the program.

Copyright 2011 The AP.