Conservation Helps Farmers Reduce Energy Costs

RICHMOND, VA--January 10, 2006 —Conservation practices are part of a new campaign announced by the USDA to help farmers reduce high energy costs. Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), farmers can use nutrient, crop residue and pesticide management along with other practices to save money in the short and long term.   

Installing conservation practices will help producers cut costs, maintain production, protect soil and water resources and reduce the Nation’s dependence on fossil fuels.  According to the Conservation Technology Information Center, a farmer switching from conventional tillage methods to no-till can save at least 3.5 gallons of fuel per acre. Using November 2005 diesel prices, a farmer with 1,000 acres of cropland could save up to 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel a year-- valued at $7,700. 

Farmers can go to an online “Energy Estimator” to figure out which tillage practices will help reduce diesel fuel usage on their operation.  Producers can also save energy and money by more efficiently applying nitrogen to crops with modern practices like banding, sidedressing, and special soil and tissue testing.  Overseeding legumes into grass pastures or hay can eliminate the need for costly nitrogen fertilizer while increasing forage nutritional quality. 

NRCS State Conservationist M. Denise Doetzer is encouraging farmers to contact their local USDA Service Center to learn about more money saving conservation practices in Virginia.   

More information about the USDA’s energy strategy is available at www.usda.gov/energy including a USDA energy fact sheet and the Energy Calculator. Local contact information for NRCS service centers is available at www.va.nrcs.usda.gov.

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