Gasoline prices continue to rise, setting a new record almost every day.
Cameron Peirce, a Reno County farmer, said the price of diesel has almost doubled from last year. Each day, cutting wheat on the combine can cost a farmer around $1,000. As it takes about 10 days to cut, Peirce said he is looking at another $5,000 added to his costs.
“Some farmers have more combines, so it costs them more,” he said. “The price of fuel has pretty much doubled. It’s one of those things we’re not accustomed to.”
Peirce said up until it started raining recently, irrigation costs were doubled as well, which was due to the high cost of fuel. Along with increased prices for fertilizer, farmers are getting hit with higher costs on multiple fronts.
“Farmers cannot pass on their costs like all other businesses,” he said. “We have no choice but to absorb it.”
The national average price for regular unleaded gas Monday was $4.865, up from $4.848 the previous day and $4.619 a week earlier, according to AAA.
The average price for regular unleaded in Kansas on Monday was $4.431, compared to $4.418 the previous day and $4.128 a week earlier, it said.
Reno County gas prices came in at $4.33 per gallon. This was the same as both Sedgwick and Rice counties. Saline and McPherson counties have an average of $4.43 per gallon, according to AAA.
One year ago, AAA reports, prices in Wichita were $2.83 a gallon.
Checking tire pressure is especially important for boosting fuel economy while driving, AAA spokesperson Ellen Edmonds told USA Today.
This can be done at home with a tire gauge or at a gas station. It prevents underinflation, which can cause drivers to lose 5% of their fuel economy, according to Edmonds.
“(That) doesn’t sound like a lot, but when gas prices are over $4, it definitely will make a difference,” she said.
Drivers can take additional steps to boost fuel economy.
Speeding and rapidly accelerating or braking can lower gas mileage by 15% to 30% at highway speeds or up to 40% in stop-and-go traffic, according to the U.S. Department of energy.
Edmonds suggests planning routes and drive times that avoid major congestion to keep speeds steady.
Idling — another product of heavy traffic — can waste up to a half-gallon of fuel per hour, according to the Department of Energy. Edmonds said drivers can save fuel by temporarily turning their car off if standstill traffic lasts more than 10 seconds.
“That actually uses less gas than if you’re just sitting and idling for several minutes,” Edmonds said.
Fuel-efficient speeds are typically capped at 50 mph miles per hour, with each additional 5 mph miles per hour equivalent to paying an extra 29 cents per gallon of gas, according to the Department of Energy. Drivers can flip on their cruise control to keep speeds — and costs — lower, or opt for slower, more scenic routes.
“A road trip is as much about the journey as it is about getting to the destination,” Edmonds said. “If you can stay in that (50 mph miles per hour) sweet spot and stay consistent, that can improve your fuel economy.”
Removing weight can also help fuel efficiency, especially when driving a smaller vehicle.
A large rooftop cargo box can reduce fuel economy up to 25% at interstate speeds, and an extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce miles per gallon by 1%, according to the Department of Energy.
Making a pit stop at the first available gas station may be tempting, but Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at fuel-savings app GasBuddy, told USA Today it’s worth shopping around before filling up your tank.
This is especially true for motorists crossing state lines, which De Haan labeled “danger zones” for drivers.
“Every state has various gas taxes,” he said. “You may be either leaving the cheap fuel behind, or the cheaper fuel may be in front of you.”
As reported in The Hutchinson News
