Energy costs have had a significant impact on profitability of agricultural operations in the last two years. High energy prices affect many agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, chemicals and of course fuel. The nature of the tillage operations recommended for carbon storage farming systems can have some shorter term impacts on overall operating costs. Three categories of tillage systems, conventional, minimum and no till, are usually compared for the purpose of carbon sequestration. When comparing fuel costs between these systems, no till farming can reduce total fuel costs by as much as 15 percent on larger farms, resulting in substantial fuel cost savings. While the graphs below looks solely at fuel prices, the overall economics of a tillage system should be considered before switching practices. Total fuel use is only one component that plays a critical role in energy efficiency and total cost to a tillage system.

Energy Economics by Tillage Systems (Interactive Model)