6 Tips To Save Fuel Use On Farm – AG Matters

As we count downs the days 'til spring arrives, many farms are planning crops and strategies for the season. One of the biggest expenses in any operation is energy use, whether it's electricity to light the milking parlor or fuel to run equipment. Mary Wrege with Cornell Cooperative Extension has some tips on reducing the use of fuel. It's good for the environment and the wallet. 

Equipment driven on fields is one of the largest uses of energy on the farm, so careful maintenance and use of tractors will improve energy efficiency greatly.

Keeping Engines Running Well in the Winter

Electric warmers are cheaper than using fuel to heat the engine. Idling vehicles can use up to 20% of total fuel use, so turn off machinery when not in use.

Fuel Tank Evaporation

If there are fuel tanks on the farm, keep them cool to reduce evaporation of fuels, and regularly inspect for leaks.  Shade, light colored tanks and an pressure relief valves can drastically reduce evaporation.

Regular Maintenance of Farm Machinery

Tune-ups, replacing filters, changing oil, and keeping tires inflated and balanced will help machinery last longer and save fuel. Remove unnecessary weight from vehicles to reduce fuel use.

Right Machine for the Job

Use an appropriately sized tool or machine for the job so as not to waste fuel. Too much or too little horsepower will reduce fuel efficiency. Drive tractors in higher gears and at lower rpm or throttle setting to reduce fuel use but not so slow as to produce black smoke or a sluggish response. Consider purchasing an ATV so as not to use a full sized truck for some smaller on-farm task

Consider No-till or Minimum Tillage

It reduce fuel use by 86% but may increase the farmer’s dependency on herbicides to control weeds. Several conservation tillage methods exist such as zone or strip tillage.

Combining Field Tasks

Spreading manure and planting simultaneously can reduce the number of passes over a field. Manage manure to reduce dependence on costly fossil fuel based fertilizers.

Get more tips on conserving fuel at ATTRA's Sustainable Agriculture web site. The site also explains how to calculate diesel fuel use.

SOURCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension - Mary Wrege