How to Save on Fuel Costs on the Farm

Megan Wild One of the highest costs you’ll encounter on the farm is the cost of fuel.

Running a farm is an expensive business. There’s a lot you have to purchase, including seed, fertilizer, herbicides, livestock, feed and fuel. You can budget for most of these expenses, so it’s easy to keep your spending within limits. However, in addition to monitoring your spending, you should also consider saving money by reducing fuel costs.

The cost of fuel fluctuates depending on supply and demand and the time of year. Because your livelihood depends on your ability to plant, grow and harvest your crops or livestock, you need to get as much out of your profit margin as you can. Below are a few ideas to help you reduce the amount of fuel you use and save some money.

1. Reduce Idling Time

One of the largest wasters of fuel is running your equipment when you’re not actively using it. In the past, because of the way diesel engines were built, it was important to keep engines idling to ensure everything had time to heat up and cool down properly. Technology has advanced the diesel engine, so it’s no longer imperative to keep your equipment running when it’s not in use.

To reduce fuel costs, limit machine warm-up to three to five minutes. When it comes to cooling your equipment down, you probably don’t need to let it run for more than 10 minutes, which will further reduce fuel costs. Shutting off the engine when you’re not using the vehicle, instead of letting it run, will also help you save money on fuel.

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old red tractor

2. Store Your Equipment Properly

In addition to your engine idling, just starting your equipment can increase the amount of fuel you use. When your equipment is not in use, store it somewhere out of the way so you don’t have to start it and run it to move it. You want it to be easy to access for the times when you need it, but don’t leave it in an area where it can get in the way. Limiting the amount of time you have to run your equipment will reduce the need to purchase fuel.

3. Maintain Your Equipment

Keeping your equipment in proper running order will also help reduce fuel consumption. This will ensure the engines are burning fuel efficiently and effectively, so you aren’t spending more than you have to. Maintaining your equipment can also reduce the likelihood of a major breakdown occurring — which may end up costing you even more money.

4. Upgrade Your Equipment

Technology is advancing, and with those advancements comes equipment that runs more smoothly and economically. Sure, the cost to upgrade to the latest tractor model might be expensive up front, but over time, it could end up saving you a lot of money.

5. Use the Right Equipment for the Job

While a large tractor probably helps you get jobs done faster, is it really necessary when a smaller, more fuel-efficient tractor could do the same job? Like upgrading your equipment to the latest model, downsizing your vehicles for better efficiency could help you save when it comes to fuel costs.

6. Decide If a Machine Is Necessary

One of the best ways to reduce fuel costs is to not use your equipment at all. This idea might not work for every task you have on the farm, but it might help with a few. If human power can accomplish a job effectively and efficiently, that could save you money. You know your farm and budget the best, so you can decide what tasks are worth using human power or machine power to accomplish.

7. Slow Down

You’re probably not drag-racing your equipment across the fields, but reducing your speed limit can reduce the amount of fuel you burn. Slowing down even five to 10 miles per hour could save you a lot. It might increase the amount of time it takes you to complete a job, but more than likely, your labor costs are less than your fuel costs, so you’re saving more in the long run.

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Running a farm can be incredibly expensive, and there are a lot of costs you have to worry about — with fuel probably your largest payment. Finding ways to reduce the amount of fuel you use will reduce your cost and increase your bottom line.

MATTHEWG

3/6/2018 3:23:45 PM

Sometimes using power equipment is better than not using them. Especially when you have a bad back or another injury, are not strong enough to handle the task at hand by yourself, and/or do not have enough time to be able to get everything done! Then a Powered machine can come in handy! But you have to use the right one, the Right sized one for the task, and the one that has enough power for the job that needs to be done. Also make sure you have enough fuel on hand and the proper fuel on hand to complete the job! Nothing like having 50 gallons of gas on hand and having a Diesel powered tractor and No Diesel! Yes A friend of mine actually did that one time when trying to clear weeds, grass, and brush from one of his relatives property! He then had to go buy a few 5 gallon fuel cans and go buy diesel for the tractor. He also had a gas powered push mower, a gas powered weed whacker, and a chainsaw.

dbentz1

11/11/2017 8:39:30 PM

Megan, I'm just a lowly gardener with two locations to care for. My fuel costs are practically nil. My tools are mostly hand tools. Some would say tillers are the best tool for gardens but I use a shovel to turn the soil. I do use a weed trimmer to manicure the pathways and front garden roadside. The rest is all done by hand tools and I love it. Quiet, steady, muscle work makes for tired achy bones that rest well at night. Work hard and go to bed tired is my motto. ***** I'm not sure what it costs to run the big guy tractors these days but I sure see a lot of them in Nebraska fields. As you said in your post, bigger and faster is not necessarily the most efficient. Some one gifted me a tiny little 2-cyle garden weed tiller. I'll have to see if I can get it running. ***** Have a great fuel efficient day on the farm. ***** Nebraska Dave