Save Energy, Save Money

Conservation Practices Contribute to Energy Efficiency and Fuel Savings

MORGANTOWN, WV, January 5, 2006−The West Virginia Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is promoting conserving natural resources. Farmers can cut input costs, maintain production, protect soil and water resources, and save money by using conservation practices. American farmers are paying $5.3 billion more for fuel and fertilizer in 2005 than they did in 2004. Saving energy reduces costs for producers and boosts their bottom lines. There is also a payoff for our nation—improving the U.S. import/export balance and reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. Saving energy is a sound business strategy with multiple benefits.

Farmers can’t control the cost of petroleum products. But there are ways to use less or optimize the use to minimizing costs. There are some very do-able strategies. West Virginia farmers can save energy and money by using manure instead of petroleum-based fertilizers, better managing pesticide applications, and adopting management intensive grazing practices.

Producers can use manure instead of petroleum-based fertilizers. The proper collection, handling, storage, and application of manure helps protect West Virginia waters, especially in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The 160,000+ tons of poultry litter generated annually in West Virginia provides a significant nutrient source for crop production. It takes approximately 40,000 cubic feet of natural gas to produce a ton of commercial nitrogen fertilizer. Doubling the application of manure-based nitrogen could save agriculture approximately $1.2 billion worth of natural gas each year. Substituting manure for commercial fertilizer can reduce fertilizer costs as much as $85 per acre.

Lessen pesticide use with scouting, spot spraying, and integrated pest management (IPM)—and cut costs significantly.  Some producers may realize savings of up to 25 percent. By scouting, farmers can make sure that a problem really exists before fighting it. Scouting helps catch problems in the early stages and makes it possible to “spot-treat” only those areas that require attention, rather than broadcasting chemicals across an entire field. Unlike other methods of pest control, where pesticides are applied on a rigid schedule, IPM applies only those controls that are needed, when they are needed, to control pests that will cause more than a tolerable level of damage to the plant. Proper pest management involves a variety of practices, such as rotating crops to reduce disease and insect problems, and establishing tall grass hedges to provide habitat for beneficial insects.

Managing grazing by dividing pasture and rotating livestock extends the grazing season and reduces the demand for grass hay. Farmers can reduce costs in seed, fertilizer, fuel, machinery and time; reduce their stress from losing crops to wetness, drought, frost and other factors. It takes 40 pounds of nitrogen (high natural gas user) at $0.40 per pound to produce a ton of grass hay; 1.35 gallons of diesel fuel at $2.41 per gallon to raise, harvest, store, and feed the hay; and dry matter losses of about 30 percent for field-stored hay. Adopting management intensive grazing practices and extending grazing by one month can reduce hay consumption by 30 pounds per cow and reduce direct energy costs to produce, store and feed the hay—saving more than $10 per cow.

NRCS can help farmers save money and energy through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP provides cost-sharing assistance for a variety of practices intended to help farmers achieve environmental goals on their land. Conservation practices under EQIP that specifically contribute to saving energy include conservation tillage, manure management, rotational grazing, and water management. Any eligible landowner in West Virginia may apply on a continuous basis at local USDA Service Centers. Even though the sign-up for these programs is continuous, there is a ranking cut-off date. Farmers and landowners in West Virginia have until March 3, 2006 to submit applications to be considered for this round of EQIP funding.

For more information please contact your local USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or your local conservation district. Information is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/

-end-

< Back to 2006 News Releases