Ag Energy Analysis for
Sac County, IA
Quick Stats
$37.6 Million
11.2 Million
103,917
368,014
889
Crop Production ($31.1 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 Sac 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 368,014 acres (Ag Census: 2017)
- - - Ag Land 354,603 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Cropland 330,692 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Cropland Harvested 317,755 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - - - - - - - Corn 156,100 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Soybeans 135,400 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Forage 6,043 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Corn silage 2,991 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - - - - - - - Oats 380 acres (NASS / Ag Census) - - - - - - Pastureland 10,816 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Woodland 2,607 acres (Ag Census: 2017) - - - - - - Other Ag Land 10,488 acres (Ag Census: 2017)Livestock Production ($6.57 Million)
Energy use per Head
Electricity, Heating, and Diesel Costs per Head
USDA/NASS Data
All Statistics for Sac 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):