Energy Use for Field Operations, Crop Drying, and Swine Housing on University Farms
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Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food fiber and other biological products.
History
In 1905 Agricultural Engineering was recognized as a subdivision of the Department of Agronomy, and in 1907 it was recognized as a unique department. It was renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 1990. The department merged with the Department of Industrial Education and Technology in 2004.
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1905–present
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- Department of Agricultural Engineering (1907–1990)
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- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
- College of Engineering (parent college)
- Department of Industrial Education and Technology, (merged, 2004)
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Abstract
Energy is an input cost to agricultural production. Knowing typical values can help farmers evaluate management options. Diesel, propane, and electrical energy used on the farm during selected field operations, crop drying, and in swine housing were measured on Iowa State University farms. Baseline values were measured and for tractor operation management styles were compared.
Fuel use was reduced in five of six comparisons (18 to 34%) when operating the tractor in a higher gear and at reduced engine speed while maintaining travel speed. Fuel use also reduced with disking depth, but varied with travel speed during chisel plowing. Energy used in high-temperature drying in bins ranged from 4.67 to 7.70 Mj/kg (2010 to 3310 Btu/lb). Minimum ventilation fans had the highest duty factor in a curtain-sided swine finishing barn. Electrical use was greater in tunnel-ventilated than curtain-sided barns (29.0 vs 20.9 kWh/pig space-yr) and propane use was greater in wean-to-finish than finish-only operations(10.6 L vs 2.5 L/pig space-yr, 2.8 gal vs 0.67 gal/pig space-yr).