$5 diesel fuel usage

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   Farmers running 500hp 4wds doing spring tillage are probably burning 20 gallon/hr @$5/gal ~ $100/hr per that one tractor? So during long hour spring days (16-18hr+) that could become $1600-1800 / day fuel cost per that one tractor?
If that 4wd is pulling a 50’ FC @ 7mph, in theory without headland turn time factored, that becomes 42.4 acres / hr per $100 of fuel. Or, $2.36/acre fuel usage. If in reality, 10% of travel was utilized for turning, then fuel usage is probably closer to $2.62/acre? That’s factoring  a square 40 acre field ( 1300’, minus 50’ headlands(1200’ passes?) considering a  constant soil pull load on FC, which is probably seldom the case?

Same could be applied to semi tractor trailer rigs moving goods up & down our roadways. 
Most 80k loaded semis could be averaging 5-6 mpg (11-13 gal/hr x $5/g ~ $55-65/hr) ??  Some lighter freight semis may average a little higher 7-9mpg (7-9gal/hr x $5/gal ~ $35-45/hr) ??

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AC7060IL Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Location: central IL Points: 3784	Post Options Post Reply Quote AC7060IL Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: $5 diesel fuel usage Posted: 18 Apr 2026 at 7:39am
	Farmers running 500hp 4wds doing spring tillage are probably burning 20 gallon/hr @$5/gal ~ $100/hr per that one tractor? So during long hour spring days (16-18hr+) that could become $1600-1800 / day fuel cost per that one tractor? If that 4wd is pulling a 50’ FC @ 7mph, in theory without headland turn time factored, that becomes 42.4 acres / hr per $100 of fuel. Or, $2.36/acre fuel usage. If in reality, 10% of travel was utilized for turning, then fuel usage is probably closer to $2.62/acre? That’s factoring a square 40 acre field ( 1300’, minus 50’ headlands(1200’ passes?) considering a constant soil pull load on FC, which is probably seldom the case? Same could be applied to semi tractor trailer rigs moving goods up & down our roadways. Most 80k loaded semis could be averaging 5-6 mpg (11-13 gal/hr x $5/g ~ $55-65/hr) ?? Some lighter freight semis may average a little higher 7-9mpg (7-9gal/hr x $5/gal ~ $35-45/hr) ??

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DMiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Hermann, Mo Points: 36529	Post Options Post Reply Quote DMiller Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Apr 2026 at 8:32am
	Is starting to turn lower. At least here, avg is around $4-$4.40 and coming down a little at a time. HOWEVER, as many I speak to here note, when already cutting close as to break even of Corn or Beans or Wheat, a few are not bothering to plant. NOT taking loans to buy materials or get on lists for Fertilizers or Seed.

plummerscarin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 22 Jun 2015 Location: ia Points: 4360	Post Options Post Reply Quote plummerscarin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Apr 2026 at 7:43pm
	Well, that's if you're buying road deisel from the pump. Which BTW was $4.96 at one station today. Though others were still $5.19. Certainly, many are buying ag fuel which doesn't have all the road use taxes added? As an example, I paid $3.69 for ag fuel but that was before Iran got bombed. Pump price was more than that at the time

Tbone95 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 31 Aug 2012 Location: Michigan Points: 12495	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tbone95 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Apr 2026 at 8:22pm
	Fuel per acre is peanuts compared to fertilizer per acre, which is NOT going down.

Lars(wi) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Permian Basin Points: 8560	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lars(wi) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Apr 2026 at 6:51am
	The gallons per acre, for the most part doesn’t change a whole lot per the job being done. The big variable is acres per hour, this is achieved greatly by the size and configuration of equipment being used.
	I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.