Farm Industry News
July 1, 2006
Pg. 20 ISSN: 0892-8312
FUEL: 11 WAYS TO LOWER COSTS
By Katie Sauck
AN ILLINOIS farmer spent an average $16.50/acre on fuel in 2005, according to
the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association and the University of
Illinois. That number is a sobering confirmation that the price of fuel demands
attention. Here are 11 tips from energy conservation experts on how to combat
today's high fuel prices.
* Match horsepowerTo save fuel, "try shifting up a gear and throttling back,"
suggests Jim Looft, county director of the Shelbyville, IL, Extension Service.
Because many farmers use more horsepower than they need, matching
horsepower to the load will increase their fuel economy. "You can usually save
quite a bit of fuel by running an under-loaded tractor in a higher gear but at a
lower engine speed," said Bill Wilcke, Minnesota Extension engineer. "Make
sure, though, that you don't overload your engine."
* Stop idlingTurning off the tractor when it's not in use, instead of letting it idle,
can save up to a gallon of fuel per hour, according to Allen Schaeffer, executive
director of the Diesel Technology Forum. Due to the technology behind today's
electronic starters, idling a vehicle instead of shutting off the engine does not
save any money in the long run. In fact, research shows that more than 10
seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting.
* Use premium diesel"Use premium diesel fuel with at least 47 cetane for easier
starting and cleaner operation of the tractor," says Mark Heckman, petroleum
sales, Watonwan Farm Service, Truman, MN. Buying fuel in the summer when
supplies are more abundant and prices are usually lower is another way to save
on fuel costs.
* Do preventive maintenance"Skimping on filter changes and other preventative
maintenance can contribute to lower operating efficiencies," Schaeffer explains.
Changing engine oil on time leads to longer engine life. And clean air and fuel
filters increase fuel savings. (Dirty filters restrict airflow into the engine.)
Heckman also recommends changing hydraulic oil regularly because 30 gal. of
oil costs a lot less than splitting your tractor to work on its hydraulic system.
* Practice no-tillUsing no-till for soybeans and strip-till for corn reduces all the
tillage trips across the field, lowering fuel consumption and fuel per acre.
Eliminating tillage not only affects production costs, but it also allows growers to
use smaller, more fuel-efficient tractors. University of Tennessee researchers
found that a no-till crop consumes $5.03/acre less in fuel costs than a
conventionally tilled corn crop.
* Combine operationsKill two birds with one stone by merging operations such as
planting and fertilizing or spraying and planting on the same trip. This technique
saves the fuel involved in taking multiple trips, explains Dwayne Beck, professor
of botany at South Dakota State University.
* Reduce slippageExcessive wheel slipping reduces the area covered in a given
period of time and causes poor fuel efficiency. Mark Hanna, agricultural
engineer, Iowa State University, explains: "With wheel slip, the engine is
driving the transmission and the transmission ends up driving the drive wheels."
While a little slip develops power, the optimal amount of slip depends on the
surface in which the tractor is operating. For example, maximum energy
efficiency lies in 8 to 11% slip in firm soil, whereas soft or sandy soil calls for 13
to 16% for maximum efficiency. Ballasting, total tractor weight and tire inflation
are factors in maintaining optimum slip.To check for slip, measure the distance
traveled after 10 tire revolutions in the field pulling a normal load. Next, measure
the distance after 10 revolutions with no load on a hard surface. This represents
zero slippage. Then, calculate the percentage between the two numbers to
determine correct slippage.As a rule of thumb, 10 to 15% slip is best, but check
your operator's manual for what is right for your tractor.
* Keep tires properly inflatedKeeping tires properly inflated helps you get the
most life out of your tires while getting better fuel economy, Heckman says.
During times of heavy machine usage, you should check tire pressures once a
week.Also, dual wheels should be accurately matched with same tire size, air
pressure and tread patterns to reduce the amount of dragging of a smaller tire,
which results in rapid and irregular wear.
* Use energy-efficient grain dryerFarm use accounts for 7% of the total demand
for propane with a majority of that going toward drying grain, so it's essential to
make sure your dryer works efficiently. The key to saving energy on drying is to
maintain and incorporate new technology in your existing dryer (see sidebar).
You also can delay harvest to ensure dryer grain.
* Apply correct amount of fertilizerAn average $53.54/acre was spent on fertilizer
in 2005, according to the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association
and the University of Illinois. Because fertilizer prices are so closely linked with
natural gas rates, making good crop nutrient decisions is important. To know how
much fertilizer your field needs, have a soil test done.
* Make outbuildings energy efficientImproving a building's energy efficiency is the
easiest way to save on heating costs. Thomas Kuehn, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, University of Minnesota, says it's important to have good insulation,
tight windows and weather-stripping in your outbuildings. In addition, you should
seal any air leaks and maintain existing heating systems. Kuehn also suggests
investing in alternative energy sources such as wind power and wood burning.
Another option is to own an oil-fired heater that can burn your used motor oil from
equipment.
Although high fuel prices can be a daunting opponent, following these tips will
help lower your fuel costs. Every little bit helps.
GRAIN DRYING
SCOTT SANFORD, senior outreach specialist for the Wisconsin Focus on
Energy, University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension, gives some advice on ways
to save energy with your existing grain dryer:
Add heat recovery
This basically preheats intake air for the dryer, saving 10 to 15% in energy use.
Do a tune-up
Maintenance such as cleaning screens and aeration floors, checking belt drives,
and cleaning fan housing and blades increases your dryer's efficiency.
Check the moisture sensor or moisture tester
Getting your tester calibrated annually helps you know whether you're under- or
overdrying.
Clean the bin floor between each batch
Debris on the bin floor restricts airflow, leading to slower drying.
Invest in a stirring device
This saves 20 to 30% in drying costs by loosening grain, increasing airflow and
drying rate. It prevents overdrying on the bottom while moving wetter grains
toward the floor. Stirring grain two or three times provides optimal benefits.
Remove fines before the grain enters the dryer
This increases dryer efficiency by not expending heat to dry something you're not
using. It also prevents restricted airflow.
Turn up the heat
As temperature increases, drying efficiency increases. Running plenum
temperatures as high as possible without burning or overheating the corn, less
than 150840 155 321 840degrees840 155 321 840 F, uses less fuel by drying
the grain faster.
New equipment
If you're thinking about buying a new dryer, Scott suggests mix-flow dryers.
These are column dryers that have airflow in both counter and concurrent
directions. They can use higher temperatures with no crop damage because all
grain kernels are exposed to the same air temperatures. The dryers are usually
self-cleaning and have energy efficiencies similar to those of counterflow dryers,
using 40% less energy than a cross-flow dryer without heat recovery