Ag Energy Analysis for
Buchanan County, IA
Quick Stats
$38.8 Million
11.6 Million
107,690
365,453
1,057
Crop Production ($33.1 Million)
Energy use per Acre
Field Operations, Fertilizer Use, and Drying Requirements per AcreData source: Iowa State University Extension
USDA/NASS Data
All Statistics for Buchanan County, IAData source: USDA Ag Census, NASS Survey
Tillage Assumptions
Data source: Not available. Customize this value below.
Rotation Assumptions
Data source: Not available. Customize this value below.
Total Land Area 365,453 acres (Ag Census: 2017)
- - - Ag Land 334,652 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Cropland 309,532 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Cropland Harvested 296,224 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - - - - - - - Corn 196,300 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Soybeans 69,100 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Forage 7,199 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Corn silage 530 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Oats 500 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - Pastureland 9,981 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Woodland 6,983 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Other Ag Land 8,156 acres (Ag Census: 2017)Livestock Production ($5.65 Million)
Energy use per Head
Electricity, Heating, and Diesel Costs per Head
USDA/NASS Data
All Statistics for Buchanan County, IAData source: USDA Ag Census, NASS Survey
Economic and Stewardship Opportunities
Selecting the right amount of tillage is a critical decision for farm energy use and profitability. Similar to other farm management decisions such as nitrogen fertilizer use for corn, or ventilation rate in a livestock confinement, overuse wastes energy but underuse can lower profitability.
A key is to carefully consider potential for gross revenue returns to tillage operations, (i.e., crop yield), in comparison to fuel, labor, and machinery costs for doing tillage. Put another way, are tillage passes beyond a no-till management scheme returning costs of fuel, labor, and machinery that are required of the tillage?
Tillage Practice Assumptions
Enter the overall percentage of crops using the following tillage practices:
Rotation Practice Assumptions
Enter the overall percentage of corn using the following rotation practices:
Energy efficiency improvements and on-site solar are viable options for most farmers. More efficient lighting, pumps, and motors can lead to a 20% reduction in electricity use, and solar panels installed on-farm can generate 30-50% of the electricity used in livestock production and/or grain drying.
Electrical Efficiency Savings
Enter the percentage of electric energy savings through energy efficiency measures and on-site solar (e.g., 20% savings):