By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Fuel prices are again on the upswing and many farmers are searching for ways to reduce fuel usage during the upcoming spring planting season.

“Increasing fuel costs are a significant concern for producers, as fuel is essential for the seedbed preparation, application of fertilizer and pesticides, planting, harvesting and fall tillage,” said Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Extension natural resource educator.

With fuel prices expected to be a primary concern for farmers again in 2007, Frazee has issued a set of suggestions, urging producers to first look closely where their fuels are being used. “Fuel consumption varies widely due to variations in tractor efficiency, soil moisture conditions, crop yields, and other factors,” said Frazee.

He outlined 10 suggestions for farmers to be able to reduce fuel usage this spring:

•Reduce trips associated with spring seedbed preparation. “With today’s modern planter units, crop residue does not create the problems it used to with seed placement and depth control,” Frazee said. “For most field situations, one tillage trip over the field in the spring should provide adequate leveling of the soil and seedbed preparation.”

•Switch to no-till where field conditions permit - especially when planting soybeans, as no-till soybeans are an easy and proven way to maximize yields without doing any tillage, Frazee said.
“In cropping year 2006, over 51 percent of Illinois soybean acreage, 17 percent of corn acreage and over 33 percent of all cropland was planted using no-till methods,” he said. “This is why many producers are adopting no-till farming systems.”
Frazee has available data which charts the savings that can be realized by utilizing various no-till systems.

•Reduce tillage depth concerning seedbed preparation if using mulch-till or reduced-till systems.
In most cases, spring seedbed preparation should be performed no deeper than 3-4 inches. This reduces power and fuel requirements.

•Combining field trips may also reduce fuel usage, according to Frazee.
“Producers using 28 percent UAN solutions may be able to mix their pre-plant or pre-emergence herbicides with their fertilizer and apply with one trip over the field. Be sure to check with your ag-supplier regarding chemical compatibility of the herbicides and fertilizer products before mixing these together,” he cautioned.

•Use post-emergence herbicides for annual grass, broadleaf control. Applying post-emergence herbicides after crops and weeds emerge allows producers to discern the crop’s seedling plant population and gauge the infestation of weed species.
“In some cases, producers may only need to ‘spot’ treatments of either the broadleaf or grass herbicide in the field,” Frazee said. “Also, by waiting until after the crop and weeds emerge for treatment, weed control is usually improved.”

•Avoid excess use of cultivators for weed control unless populations are uncontrollable through use of herbicides.

•Field equipment should match tractor.
“If excess tractor horsepower is used for the job, fuel efficiency declines dramatically,” Frazee reported. “Conversely, if a small horsepower tractor is used and the tractor becomes overloaded for the job, fuel efficiency also suffers. In many situations, research studies show that a large front-wheel assist tractor or four-wheel drive tractor may actually provide the best fuel efficiency if it is appropriately sized to a large field cultivator or other tillage implement.
“A good rule of thumb is to usually select the smallest and lightest tractor for the job that needs to be done to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce soil compaction.”

•Take time for proper tractor maintenance.
Clean air and fuel systems and replace filters. Be sure to lubricate tractors and equipment to ensure enhanced fuel efficiency and operation.

•Limit trips to town.
Research studies show farmers spend a lot of money on fuel running around gathering inputs for their farm operations.
Frazee advises that when possible, they should combine trips for seed, chemicals and other agri-business services.

“For most farms, the greatest farm fuel usage occurs in the fall as the crops are harvested and dried, and fall tillage is performed,”
Frazee concluded, while recommending farmers begin examining their entire farming operation to identify ways to reduce fuel consumption this season.

Frazee may be contacted at 309-694-7501 ext. 226 or via e-mail at rfrazee@uiuc.edu

This farm news was published in the April 4, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.