Fuel prices: Farmers urged to adopt saving measures to cut costs

Diesel's rising cost is adding up for those using trucks, tractors and large machinery. Photo / Oticki, 123rf

By Sally Murphy of RNZ

Farmers in the thick of harvest are being reminded there are small changes they can make to save on fuel.

In the regions, farmers, growers and rural contractors are feeling the pain of rising fuel prices.

The rising cost of diesel is adding thousands of dollars to the bills of those running trucks, tractors and big machines, such as combine harvesters.

Chris Smith, technology manager at the Foundation of Arable Research, said there were small changes that could be made to save on fuel, such as using auto-steer, which is like cruise control.

“Manual driving inevitably means overlaps, often 5 to 10% across a typical day’s work,” he said.

“Auto steer trims that down dramatically, usually to between 1 and 3%.

“This small adjustment in accuracy brings a surprisingly large payoff.

“Straighter passes don’t just look tidier; they reduce throttle variation, lower operator fatigue, and keep machinery working more efficiently.”

Smith said fertiliser prices were also increasing, but there was technology that allowed farmers to put fertiliser only where it was needed, which could result in big savings.

Even a basic guidance system typically knocks 2 to 7% off chemical or fertiliser use.

“The real step change comes from variable rate application, across a set of typical New Zealand paddocks, nitrogen savings of 5 to 20% aren’t unusual, while phosphate and potash can drop by 10 to 15%.

“Lime is often the standout, with well-mapped paddocks showing reductions of 20 to 50% as oversupplied zones are corrected rather than blanket treated.”

Smith said another thing farmers and growers should keep in mind was that sometimes the biggest tractor didn’t need to be used.

“There’s very much a tendency when a job needs doing, people jump in the biggest tractor with the most gadgets.

“It’s the most comfortable, but just remember the bigger tractors cost more to run - there are usually smaller machines that can do the job just as well and save you money.”

Smith said the key message was that small refinements, applied consistently, could deliver significant savings.

- RNZ