Conservation Practices Contribute to Energy Efficiency and Fuel Savings

Farmers can cut input costs, maintain production, protect soil and water resources, reduce fuel use, and save money by using the following conservation practices.

 

Energy-Saving Practices Crop Residue Management According to the Conservation Technology Information Center, a farmer can save at least 3.5 gallons of fuel per acre with a current value (Feb. 2006) of $6.83 per acre by going from conventional tillage methods to no-till. No-till is a conservation practice that leaves the soil undisturbed from harvest through planting except for narrow strips that cause minimal soil disturbance. Nutrient Management The proper collection, handling, storage and application of manure help to protect our nation’s waters and provide a significant nutrient source for crop production. It takes approximately 40,000 cubic feet of natural gas to produce a ton of commercial nitrogen fertilizer. Doubling the use of manure-based nitrogen fertilizer to replace fertilizer produced from natural gas could save an additional $750 million and 100 billion cubic feet of natural gas annually. Irrigation Water Management The 2003 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey reports approximately 27 million U.S. acres under sprinkler irrigation. About 80 percent of these acres utilize center pivot systems. If the acres under medium pressure were converted to low pressure, the per acre energy savings could be about $9.00 per acre. The conversion of the high-pressure systems to low pressure would result in additional savings of $41 per acre. Diesel powered pumps are used on about 10 million irrigated acres. A 10 percent improvement in water use efficiency could reduce diesel consumption by 8 gallons per acre. Precision Agriculture By reducing overlap in fertilizer and pesticide applications on the 250 million acres of cropland used to produce major crops, petroleum-based fertilizer and pesticide costs could be reduced up to $1 billion annually. A 1,000-acre farm can save up to $13 per acre by using precision agriculture techniques. Integrated Pest Management Integrated Pest Management reduces energy use and environmental risk while maintaining product quality. Producers use biological and cultural methods, and the judicious use of pesticides to save energy and cut costs. For example, some cherry producers have abandoned traditional spraying schedules to spray based on in-the-field microclimate information obtained from monitoring equipment and scouting. This can reduce the typical herbicide cost about $40 per acre with a 25 percent reduction of herbicide application. 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 for field-stored hay, every month that cows can remain on pasture reduces direct energy costs by about $10.70 per cow. Windbreaks and Shelterbelts Windbreaks and shelterbelts can reduce wind-induced erosion and save heating and cooling costs associated with farmsteads. When properly placed to shield farm buildings from strong winds, windbreaks can lower heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent.

It All Adds Up to Significant            Savings Doubling the amount of no-till acreage could save farmers and ranchers an additional 217 million gallons of diesel fuel per year, valued at about $480 million. Converting center-pivot systems from medium pressure to low pressure could reduce energy costs by $87 million; converting from high pressure to low pressure would save another $80 million.  Diesel powered pumps: A 10 percent improvement in water use efficiency could reduce diesel consumption by 80 million gallons per year, saving farmers and ranchers about $180 million dollars per year in diesel costs. Doubling the application of manure-based nitrogen could save agriculture up to 100 billion cubic feet of natural gas with a market value of about $1.2 billion each year, or about two percent of the total national residential natural gas use. By reducing application overlap on the 250 million acres of cropland used to produce major crops, petroleum-based fertilizer and pesticide costs could be reduced up to $1 billion annually.

 

Conservation Energy Estimators Use online "energy estimator" tools to make energy-efficient conservation practice decisions. Energy Estimator: Nitrogen Energy Estimator: Tillage Ag Propane Cost Estimator (AgWeb.com)

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.