Diesel: Managing Energy Use on the Farm MARK HANNA, EXTENSION AG ENGINEER Corn n, $/bushel $9. $8. $7. $6. $5. $4. $3. $2. $1. $. Jan-3 Jan-4 Jan-5 Jan-6 Jan-7 Jan-8 Jan-9 Jan-1 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 USDA NASS - Iowa http://farmenergy.exnet.iastate.edu $18. $16. ans, $/bushel $14. $12. $1. $8. $6. $4. $2. $. Jan-3 Jan-4 Jan-5 Jan-6 Jan-7 Jan-8 Jan-9 Jan-1 Jan-11 Jan-12 Soybea Jan-13 USDA NASS - Iowa -- Iowa Ag Energy Use -- USDA Census of Agriculture, 27 $5. $5. fuel, $/gallon Diesel $4. $3. $2. $1. ine, $/gallon $4. $3. $2. $1. $. $. Jan-3 Jan-4 Jan-5 Jan-6 Jan-7 Jan-8 Jan-9 Jan-1 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-3 Jan-4 Jan-5 Jan-6 Jan-7 Jan-8 Jan-9 Gasoli Jan-1 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Energy Information Administration Energy Information Administration 1
Field Operations Drying Corn (175 bu/acre, 5 pts removed) Subsoil/rip 1.7 gal/acre Field cultivate.65 Plant.4 Spray (2x).2 Combine + 1.45 Total 4.4 gal/acre High-temperature LP Electricity Total diesel equivalent: Low-temperature Electricity Total diesel equivalent: 15.8 gal 17.5 kwh 1.7 gal 28 kwh 6.9 gal Five ways to save energy and $$$ in crop production: Limiting tillage operations Ballasting tractors for energy efficiency Tractor maintenance Shift-up, throttle-back (transmission) Forage harvesting PM 79, Fuel Required for Field Operations Six ISU farms, Al-Kaisi & Hanna, 23-7 Shinners, 1989 2
n yield, bu/acre Corn 25 225 2 175 15 125 1 75 5 25 n yield, bu/acre Corn 25 225 2 175 15 125 1 75 5 25 Corn after soybean Subsoil/rip & chisel 41 site years Al-Kaisi & Hanna Corn after corn Subsoil/rip & chisel 25 site years Al-Kaisi & Hanna ean yield, bu/acre Soybe 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Savings potential for 1 acres Eliminate one primary or two secondary tillage passes (1.5 gal/acre) 15gal/acrex 1.5 x 1 acres x $4/gal = $6 Eliminate secondary tillage pass or raise tillage depth from 15 to 9 inches (.75 gal/acre) Soybean after corn Subsoil/rip & chisel 41 site years Al-Kaisi & Hanna.75 gal/acre x 1 acres x $4/gal = $3 3
2.5 2 24 psi 14 psi Gal/ac 1.5 1.5 896 896 896 864 4955 Tractor Wood & Mangione, 1994 Savings potential for 1 acres Determining/correcting ballast and tire inflation ~ $4/gal diesel with 1% savings = $2 Maintaining correct ballast/tire inflation ~ $4/gal diesel with 3% savings = $6 Time (labor, depreciation) = additional savings 4
Tractor maintenance schedule Follow manufacturer recommendations Filter and fluid changes Missouri study of 99 tractors After changing fuel and air filters: Power increased by 3.5% Fuel savings estimate of 15 gal/year Tractor engine block heater for cold weather operation 1 watt heater @ $.1/kwh = $.1/hr Operated (overnight) for 12 hrs = $1.2 Operated for 2 hrs on a timer = $.2 Tractor idling time Assume 2 hp for the idling tractor Idle fuel use (from tractor test) = 3.67 gal/hr Idling for an extra 1 minutes = 61.61 gal or $2.45 @ $4/gal SAVE $1./DAY OR $1/SEASON 5 long idles per year = $125/year 5
Savings potential for tractor use Assume 2 hp tractor operated 4 hr/year Assume $4/gallon diesel and $.1 kwh electricity On-time scheduled filter maintenance = $4 Block heater on timer = $1 Limit cool down idling = $125 Gal/h 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 138 hp 95 hp 173 hp tractor 7th gear 9th gear CaseIH 245 OECD tractor test Savings potential for 1 acres: Assume: reduced tractor load for 2 lighter secondary tillage/planting operations and spraying 15% fuel savings x 1.3 gal/acre =.2 gal/acre 1 acres x.2 gal/acre = 2 gallons 2 gallons x $4/gal = $8 6
Savings potential for forage harvest Assume: 1.5 gal/acre with cutterhead using 5% of energy Cutterhead energy use =.75 gal/acre Dull/misadjusted knives double cutting energy adding.75 gal/acre Dull/misadjusted knives cost =.75 gal x $4/gal = $3/acre 7
Fuel economy index Summary of potential annual savings Limiting tillage: $3 - $6 Optimal ballasting/tire inflation: $6 - $2 Tractor selection: $12 Engine maintenance and management: $6 Use proper transmission gear: $8 Crop farm, 1 acres: $6,2 - $1,6 Farm energy savings Many ag inputs are subject to variability Energy use can be managed and adjusted Energy savings improve overall profitability 8
Iowa farm energy site: http://farmenergy.exnet.iastate.edu E-extension national site: www.extension.org Search energy, farm energy, efficiency & conservation NRCS energy calculator tool: energytools.sc.egov.usda.gov http://farmenergy.exnet.iastate.edu 9