Ag Energy Analysis for
Palo Alto County, IA
Quick Stats
$37.4 Million
11 Million
103,799
360,870
785
Crop Production ($31.4 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 Palo Alto 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 360,870 acres (Ag Census: 2017)
- - - Ag Land 342,879 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Cropland 329,418 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Cropland Harvested 309,960 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - - - - - - - Corn 171,700 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Soybeans 107,200 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Forage 2,687 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Oats 1,570 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Corn silage 1,510 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - Pastureland 4,512 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Woodland 1,391 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Other Ag Land 7,558 acres (Ag Census: 2017)Livestock Production ($6.04 Million)
Energy use per Head
Electricity, Heating, and Diesel Costs per Head
USDA/NASS Data
All Statistics for Palo Alto 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):