Oct 28, 2005 3:22 pm US/Central
MN Farmers Look For Ways To Save Fuel At Harvest
Crookston, Minn. (AP) ―
Farmers in northwestern Minnesota are doing whatever they can to save expensive fuel during the fall harvest, from little tricks of the trade to using expensive technology.
One easy way to save fuel is to work the farm machines no harder than necessary. "Not running your engine at full rpm is the best way to save fuel," said Les Swanson, sales manager for Roseau Farm Service.
A fairly new piece of technology makes that easier. The infinitely variable transmission saves fuel because it helps keep the engine running at the optimum speed, said Rodney Bryn, general manager of Crookston Implement.
"If you chose a 6 mph ground speed, depending on the load behind you, you can run the engine anywhere between 1,500 to 2,200 rpm, so if it's a light load condition you can run it at idle and save fuel," Bryn said.
It's expensive, though. A new tractor with the transmission costs about $145,000.
Some new tractors also come with GPS-guided, auto-steering mechanisms. Crookston farmer Daryl Wagner said he first tried an off-brand tractor, but it wasn't as efficient in time and fuel as his new John Deere tractor.
The GPS-steering system allows farmers to reduce overlapping, which wastes fuel and fertilizer. Without the auto-steering mechanism, 10 percent to 15 percent of acreage can be wastefully over-treated.
"That's a fuel savings right there," Wagner said.
He was less confident in another tip from some experts, that tractors with tracks are more fuel efficient than tractors with tires.
"There isn't that much savings between the two of them," Wagner said. "Tracks pull a little bit better, but under wet conditions, tires work better."
Despite all the tricks and technology, some farmers are resigned to the fact that there's little they can do about high fuel prices other than pay them.
Ralph Larson, of Ralph Larson Farms, owns a fleet of 17 farming machines, including his pickup trucks. He has no plans to upgrade his equipment anytime soon to save money on fuel.
"We're just working the fields less," he said. "We think twice about it before going over them again to get rid of weed."
(© 2005 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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