The Role of Diesel Fuel in Agriculture: Powering Farm Equipment

Keep your farm operations with diesel fuel from W.H. Riley & Son

When we think about diesel fuel, we often think of it as an energy source that can power and fuel large vehicles such as trucks and buses. While the fuel is more than capable of doing this, it has so many additional uses that people may be less aware of. In fact, in addition to the on-road diesel fuel that powers the engines of trucks, public buses, school buses and other public transportation vehicles there is also off-road diesel fuel that is reserved for engines that don’t drive on a road such as generators, tractors and other heavy-duty equipment.

Today we will take a look at how diesel fuel helps and is used within the agricultural industry.

What diesel fuel can do on a farm

Diesel fuel plays an incredibly pivotal role on farms here in southeastern Massachusetts as well as nationwide. Simply put, some jobs would not be able to get done without the fuel. There is a lot of equipment that is used and needed on a farm and this equipment needs some sort of fuel help it operate and run. This is exactly where diesel fuel comes into play.

Diesel fuel can be used in the agricultural industry to:

• Fuel equipment that is used to conduct daily farm operations such as plows, tractors, tillers and harvesters
• Power generators that are needed to keep things running and operating when and if there is a blackout
• Fuel the engines of the trucks and transportation vehicles that are used to move a farm’s products to storage facilities, distributors and markets

The advantages of using diesel fuel on a farm

Diesel fuel makes the engine that it powers incredibly efficient. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, engines that are powered with diesel fuel operate at about 40% efficiency. Engines that are powered with gasoline typically get a rating between about 12% and 30%. This efficiency can make agricultural workers more productive, which can help a farm’s bottom line in the long run.

Diesel fuel is now cleaner and better for the environment than ever before. This is partially due to higher standards that have been set in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A diesel fuel-powered engine can also reach peak power while maintaining a reasonable and safe speed. A gasoline engine needs to hit a high RMP (revolutions per minute) to reach peak power. However, a diesel engine only needs to hit 65 miles an hour.

The price of diesel fuel

If you are using diesel fuel on your farm, keep in mind that its price can fluctuate often. There are a few elements that contribute to this, including state taxes, supply and demand and the rules that are put in place by the EPA at a given time.

W.H. Riley & Son can fuel your diesel-powered engines

Whether you need diesel fuel for your farm or for another business here in southeastern Massachusetts W.H. Riley & Son can help. We proudly serve moving companies, construction companies, farms, delivery companies and transportation companies. Not only can you count on us for fuel, but we also offer fair prices and exceptional service.

Contact W.H. Riley & Son today to partner with us on your diesel fuel needs.