Getting the Most from Your Energy Dollar...
There’s no avoiding this reality in farming: Energy is one of the more expensive components of raising crops and livestock. In 2006, direct energy expenditures in agriculture accounted for 5-7 percent of farm expenditures. An earlier USDA study found that nearly half the cost of production was spent for energy.
Introduction to Sustainable Farm Energy Use, Conservation and Generation
In the last few years, interest in alternative energy and energy conservation has skyrocketed due to unstable fuel prices and the desire to move toward renewable and sustainable energy sources. At the same time, technologies to conserve energy as well as convert feedstocks to biodiesel and ethanol have improved significantly.
Across America, farms are generating their own energy using wind turbines, solar panels, or anaerobic digesters, with some selling the excess electricity back to the grid. Other producers are experimenting with on-farm biodiesel and ethanol production, or researching new energy-related crops and business opportunities in anticipation of developing cellulosic biofuel technology and markets.
Learn many strategies for improving energy efficiency, and the cheapest and easiest way to reduce energy costs on the farm at extension.org.
Nebraska Study Says Irrigated Corn Is Highly Energy Efficient
Contrary to conventional wisdom, irrigated corn in Nebraska is high efficient in the use of energy, water and fertilizer, according to University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientists who research found that increased yields more than offset the energy cost of these inputs.
The researchers are Ken Cassman, UNL agronomist and Patricio Grassini, a UNL research professor in agronomy. They co-authored a report about their research in a winter proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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