Cutting Energy Use on the Farm and Ranch is Good; New Energy Estimator Available for No-till

Reducing farm and ranch energy use can reduce costs. Some changes are fairly easy to make, according to Harold L. Klaege, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist.

Many Kansas farmers are already making changes, and there is room for others to change, added Klaege.

Some of the ways agriculture producers can reduce energy use are:

Leaving Crop Residue on the Soil Surface

According to data from the Conservation Technology Information Center, a farmer can save at least 3.5 gallons of fuel per acre by changing from conventional tillage to no-till leaving the soil undisturbed from harvest through planting causing minimal soil disturbance. Using November 2005 diesel prices, on 1,000 acres of cropland, these savings add up to 3,500 gallons of fuel per year valued at $7,700.

"The NRCS has recently made available an 'Energy Estimator for Tillage'. The online tool estimates diesel fuel use and costs in the farmers area, and compares potential energy savings between conventional tillage and alternative tillage systems," said Klaege.

It’s quick and easy to use, just three steps, to calculate the diesel fuel used and costs with various tillage practices to help farmers make money-saving decisions, he added.

Other Ways To Conserve Energy

Figures cited are provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), except where noted.

Manure Management

According to USDA, currently 2.7 million tons of manure-based nitrogen is applied on ag land annually. It takes about 40,000 cubic feet of natural gas to produce a ton of commercial nitrogen fertilizer. Substituting manure for commercial fertilizer can reduce fertilizer costs as much as $85 per acre for a 1,000-acre farm.

Irrigation Savings

Kansas has an estimated 3.1 million acres of irrigated land with the majority using sprinkler systems. Converting from medium pressure to low pressure systems, the per acre energy savings could be about $9 per acre. Converting from the high-pressure systems to low pressure would result in an additional $41 savings per acre.

"In the last four years, Kansas NRCS has helped convert almost 200 sprinkler systems. NRCS offers cost-share funds and technical assistance to make these improvements through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)," said Klaege. Applications for these EQIP funds are being continuously taken at local NRCS offices.

Precision Agriculture

Reducing overlap on fertilizer and pesticide applications could add $13 per acre savings by using precision agriculture techniques.

Prescribed Grazing Systems

It takes 40 pounds of nitrogen (high natural gas user) at $0.40 per pound to produce a ton of grass hay; 1.35 gallons of diesel fuel at $2.41 per gallon to raise, harvest, store, and feed the hay; and dry matter losses of about 30 percent of field-stored hay. Every month that cows remain on pasture reduces direct energy costs by about $10.70 per cow. Ranchers can get more information on grazing options at the local NRCS office.

Windbreaks and Shelterbelts

Planting trees and shrubs for windbreaks and shelterbelts can reduce wind-induced erosion and save heating and cooling costs around homes and buildings. Windbreaks can lower heating and cooling costs by 20 percent.

For More Information

Additional resources are available from the National NRCS Web site.  For more information about NRCS programs, visit the Kansas NRCS Web site.

Last Modified: 08/26/2008