Reduce Energy Use on the Homestead

Several years ago, as fuel prices spiked and I read that up to half the expenses of the average U.S. farm can go toward energy, I decided to see how our farm compared. Our energy usage was only 5 percent of our total expenses, and that included two delivery trucks we ran about four days a week. At the time, we determined that diesel fuel could go up to $10 a gallon and we’d still be fine. Although we still use plenty of fuel, we’re consoled knowing we’ll be the last guy standing if everything falls apart.

While this difference in percentage doesn’t necessarily translate to profitability, it certainly does reflect a degree of resiliency. Reducing energy consumption and dependency offers numerous benefits. But how do we do it? Here are some strategic protocols.

1 Reduce feedstock transportation.

You should never transport bulky feeds, such as hay, to your animals; instead, transport your animals to the hay. Ideally, we feed hay proximate to where we made it.

Many years ago, we