Electrical energy efficiency on United States farms covers the use of

electricity Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as describ ...

farm A farm (also called an agricultural holding) is an area of land that is devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing food and other crops; it is the basic facility in food production. The name is used ...

s and the methods and incentives for improving the efficiency of that use. U.S. farms have almost doubled their average energy efficiency over the past 25 years.

Usage

Energy costs represent between 2% (at cattle feed lots) and 9% (for grain farming, due partly to grain drying) of farm production costs.

Use on dairy farms

In 2006 there were about 65,000

dairy farm Dairy farming is a class of agriculture for long-term production of milk, which is processed (either on the farm or at a dairy plant, either of which may be called a dairy) for eventual sale of a dairy product. Dairy farming has a history th ...

s in the United States, although most had fewer than 200 cows. One "resource auditor" believes it is possible for dairy farms to reach an energy usage of as low as 200 kWhr per cow per year although an analysis of California dairy farms found that 300 kWhr/year was the lowest actually attained.Dairy Farm Energy Management Guide
/ref> One study found the following electrical usages on New York dairy farms: *Milk cooling – 23% *Ventilation – 21% *Vacuum pumps – 18% *Lighting – 17% *Electrical water heating – 10% *Feeding equipment – 7% Another study found highly similar results.

Regulations

Hitherto almost entirely unregulated (except for zoning ordinances and the effects of

property tax A property tax or millage rate is an ad valorem tax on the value of a property.In the OECD classification scheme, tax on property includes "taxes on immovable property or net wealth, taxes on the change of ownership of property through inhe ...

es), environmental concerns are now beginning to impose restrictions on farms. How renewable energy projects may be implemented and also on what rate of return electricity producers can obtain from utilities are key current topics. Acts such as Wisconsin's ''Clean Energy Jobs Act'' (only proposed as of April, 2010) are controversial among farmers for these reasons. Canada's Green Energy Act 2009 implemented similar kinds of regulations. Contrarily,

carbon offset A carbon offset is a reduction or removal of emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. Offsets are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e). One ton of carb ...

s may soon offer farmers additional incentives to increase energy use efficiency. However, at least one proposed

cap and trade Emissions trading is a market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for reducing the emissions of pollutants. The concept is also known as cap and trade (CAT) or emissions trading scheme (ETS). Carbon emission t ...

process would raise farmers' costs by up to $1.19 (USD) per acre. Corporate Average Fuel Economy Fuel standards too (such as in the

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007Pub.L. 110-140, originally named the Clean Energy Act of 2007, is an Act of Congress concerning the energy policy of the United States. As part of the Democratic Party's 100-Hour Plan during th ...

) are controversial, as biofuels are now a significant portion of farm income.

Efficiency increases

Increased efficiency in farm usage of electricity is being driven by

Greening Greening is the process of transforming living environments, and also artifacts such as a space, a lifestyle or a brand image, into a more environmentally friendly version (i.e. 'greening your home' or 'greening your office'). The act of green ...

as well as by

economics Economics () is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analyzes ...

. "The biggest users of electrical power are heat, light and motors. ... A recent study found that a 3-hp energy efficient compressor used over 42 percent fewer kilowatt-hours (kWhr) than a 3-hp conventional compressor." Two prime areas for efficiency improvements are implementing the use of heat recovery systems and

variable speed drives Motor drive means a system that includes a motor. An adjustable speed motor drive means a system that includes a motor that has multiple operating speeds. A variable speed motor drive is a system that includes a motor and is continuously variabl ...

. One organization postulated a three-year plan for farms to use energy better.

Crop rotation

Simply including years of either clover or alfalfa into the cycle of grain crops can yield savings without reducing total crop yields.

Farm energy audits

Farms sometimes use accredited "resource auditors" to analyze their operations and recommend improved efficiencies, typically at costs exceeding $1,000 per audit. However, typical full repayment of an audit's cost could be around six years. Also, a Certified Farm Energy Audit may be required for participation in state or federal energy efficiency programs. An audit of 20 farms in Cumbria showed savings could be made in all areas examined. An example of a farm energy audit in Maine is at the following reference. Maryland has a statewide program entitled ''EnSave''.

Energy calculators

Recently a number of "energy calculators" have become available, addressing one or more aspects of farm energy usage. New calculators are being developed under government and utility grants, such as one in Oregon.

Dairy farm efficiency improvements

Some improvements are specific to dairy farms, such as using supplemental lighting with energy efficient lamps (which can increase milk production 5 to 16 percent) or relieving heat stress with a combination of sprinklers and fans to increase the cooling effect and improve energy use. California compiled a "Complete Guide" to dairy farm efficiency improvements.

Cow manure to electrical generation

Norswiss Farms of

Rice Lake, Wisconsin Rice Lake is a city in Barron County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 9,040. The city is located mostly within the Town of Rice Lake. History Rice Lake was named in 1870 after nearby Rice Lak ...

, an 1100-cow dairy farm, expects to save over $70,000 per year (plus income from electricity sales) from its installation of an 848 kW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system operating on

anaerobic digester Anaerobic digestion is a sequence of processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. The process is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste or to produce fuels. Much of the fermen ...

s gas from cow manure. The electricity generated is sold to the grid. A similar installation in 2004 on a 270 cow farm in California (one of five in the state at that time) powered a 75 kW generator. Central Vermont Public Service has a "Cow Power" program using methane-fueled electricity from Vermont farms.

Government and utility incentives

U.S. utilities allocated $5.3 billion to energy efficiency programs in 2009. Government and utility incentives can be beneficial to those entities as well. "It may be less expensive for governments to encourage efficiency and renewable energy options n order to/nowiki> delay or negate the need to upgrade and modernize rural grid infrastructure." A partial list of incentives is available at the following reference: A link to relevant utility pages is at: A third partial list is at:

Alliant Energy Alliant Energy is a public utility holding company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, providing power in Iowa and Wisconsin. History Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL) expanded greatly in the late 1920s to include operations in Iowa, ...

in Wisconsin funds the installation of energy-saving projects, receiving payments on the monthly electric bills. National Grid has a similar program.

References

External links

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA)
home page
Farm Energy Alternatives (ATTRA)Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC)
a

USDA The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of com ...

National Agricultural Library webpage
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
home page
Integration of Renewable Energy on FarmsEnergy SavingsManure Use for Fertilizer and for Energy: Report to CongressRISE, a Tool for Holistic Sustainability Assessment at the Farm LevelEfficiency VermontEfficiency MaineTexas EfficiencyDairy Farm Crisis 2009

As need returns, so do farm crisis hotlines (AgriWellness)FarmEnergy.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Efficient Energy Use Electric power in the United States Agriculture in the United States