Economic evaluation of farm energy audits and benchmarking of energy use on vegetable farms
12 January 2015Gas fuelled on farm power generation
22 January 2015
Project Code
Short Summary
Energy is of increasing importance as a cost centre in vegetable operations. Saving energy can improve the bottom line; it’s a matter of finding where the best and most economic energy savings are hidden.
Year Published
2014
Project Provider
Infotech research
Attachment
Infotech Research conducted a series of 22 energy audits of levy paying vegetable growers in 2014, as part of a project with Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (formerly known as Horticulture Australia Limited). We found that while individual operations vary, most of the energy used on a farm is as diesel fuel for cultivation, planting, irrigation and harvesting. Electrical energy consumption is less but costs about the same as diesel, while LPG is the predominant fuel used by forklifts.
Fact sheet
Industry development and communication
Environment
Postharvest and supply chain
Industry data and insights
On-farm and crop management
Productivity
Artichoke
Asian leafy vegetables
Potatoes
Onions
Beans
Beetroot
Broccoli
Alliums
Cucumber
Chives
Brassicas
Peas
Pumpkins
Eschalots/French shallots
Coriander
Asparagus
Baby leaf
Brussel sprouts
Capsicum
Carrots
Chillies
Cabbage
Squash
Garlic
Fennel
Leafy vegetables
Celeriac
Celery
Endive/radicchio/chicory
Zucchini
Cucurbits
Mushrooms
Parsley
Cauliflower
Eggplant
Parsnips
Leeks
Lettuce
Rosemary
Rhubarb
Silverbeet
Spring onions/green shallots
Radish
Tomatoes
Kohlrabi
Herbs
Spinach
Swedes
Sweet Corn
Solanaceous vegetables
Other herbs
Other vegetables
Sweet potato
Sprouts
Turnips
Root vegetables
Other root vegetables
Legumes