Using conservation practices on the farm can make a big difference in energy bills and fuel use, water use and more, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Here are a few examples and how much you can save:

· Switch from conventional tillage to no-till – and save up to 3.5 gallons of fuel per acre with a value of $6.83 per acre (as of February 19).

· Move to low-pressure irrigation systems – and save $40 per acre for medium-pressure systems and $52 per acre for high-pressure systems.

· Replace old or inefficient irrigation pumps – and if producers achieve a 10-percent improvement in water-use efficiency, they could reduce diesel consumption by 8 gallons per acre, saving $15,600 on 1,000 acres.

· Better manage pesticide applications through precision agriculture – and pay for the cost of a basic auto-steer guidance system in two years by saving $2,000 in pesticide costs per year on 3,000 acres of cropland.

· Plant windbreaks and shelterbelts to reduce heating and cooling costs – and save up to 20 percent on energy bills for the farmstead.

· Adopt management-intensive grazing practices – and save up to $6.50 per acre in energy costs and another $38 in reduced harvest costs.

7/21/2006