Energy costs may not be your largest expense on the farm, but it’s one that you can jump in on and make a fairly large impact without changing productivity, says Mark Hanna, Extension ag engineer at Iowa State University. He offers ideas for conserving fuel, including reduced tillage passes, shifting up, front-wheel assist and hybrid choice and drying.
While tillage may be necessary for compacted acres, Hannah says that eliminating a primary tillage pass can save around $4,000 per 1,000 acres.
He also says that shifting up with lighter loads can save about 20%, and using front-wheel assist can save 5-10% in fuel costs, too.
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