Energy Analysis

Reducing demand for energy in every aspect of American enterprise has become a top priority nationally, owing to volatile petroleum prices, national security issues relative to dependence on foreign oil, and environmental concerns associated with growing energy consumption. The farmers we serve raised this issue long ago, as rising prices for nitrogen and fuel caused soaring input costs.

In response, ISA’s Environmental Programs and Services initiated a pilot project in 2007 to study methods of providing technical assistance to producers for addressing energy concerns. Some tools were available to assess energy usage associated with the farmstead, livestock buildings, and grain drying and storage. However, tools to help producers evaluate the energy use and opportunities to improve efficiency related to their in-field management were lacking. 

ISA initiated a pilot program, with the MGT Envirotec consulting group providing technical support and training materials for an energy calculator they had developed translating field operations to direct and indirect energy use. Nine CEMSA crop consultants worked with 51 of their farmer clients to document, evaluate, and implement decisions regarding energy usage and opportunities to improve efficiency in their farming operations. The resulting data was then assembled and analyzed through a joint effort between ISA and Environmental Intelligence, Inc. (Read more about the Pilot Project in this Iowa Soybean Review article.)