Source: Radio New Zealand
123RF
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 like combine harvesters.
Chris Smith who is technology manager at the Foundation of Arable Research said there were small changes that could be made to save on fuel, like using auto-steer which is like cruise control.
“Manual driving inevitably means overlaps, often five to ten percent across a typical day’s work.
“Auto steer trims that down dramatically, usually to between one and three percent. 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 knocked two to seven percent 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 five to 20 percent aren’t unusual, while phosphate and potash can drop by ten to 25 percent.
“Lime is often the standout, with well mapped paddocks showing reductions of 20 to 50 percent 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.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand