By Chris Kick
Rising prices for diesel fuel, fertilizer and other farm inputs continue to strain the agricultural sector at planting season.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. is up more than a dollar per gallon compared to last year, and U.S. on-road diesel prices are up more than $2, for an average of $5.64. Most off-road diesel prices are slightly under $5 a gallon.
Andrew Frankenfield, Penn State Extension educator and senior agronomy educator on the crops team in the College of Agricultural Sciences, said there are several options available to help farmers be efficient.
“While we don’t have much control over the prices that we’re seeing, there are some basic practices that can help farmers save fuel and fertilizer, which will help ease the pain as much as possible,” he said.
To navigate high fertilizer prices, Frankenfield said farmers should focus on return on investment. This means testing soils, knowing current nutrient needs and applying fertilizer responsibly.
Source : psu.edu