How The Agricultural Sector Can Cut Fuel Costs and Boost Efficiency

In today’s agricultural economy, fuel isn’t just a line item; it’s a critical operational resource that can shape the success or failure of a growing season. 

In 2024, farmers experienced some relief from the volatility of recent years, as fuel prices stabilized. This is attributed to factors like lower crude oil prices and improved global supply chains, offering a more predictable cost environment for agricultural operations. 

Despite this respite, fuel still remains a significant expense for farmers, and uncertainties persist due to global market dynamics and geopolitical factors. Optimizing fuel use is economically beneficial, period. By adopting efficient practices and technologies, farmers can reduce fuel consumption and lower operational costs.

“Any little thing can affect the ag industry in terms of profit or loss,” says Bradley Eyre, a supply and pricing expert for Rhinehart Oil. “Fuel costs alone can make or break the entire year.”

In this blog, our fuel experts provide insights for farmers to help them enhance fuel efficiency, ensuring resilience and profitability in an ever-evolving agricultural landscape.

Why Fuel Efficiency Matters More Than Ever

Fuel is one of your largest operational costs, and as we’ve established earlier, it’s also one of the most volatile.

Many farmers place bulk orders just once annually, filling up 10,000-gallon tanks during the off-season. That makes timing and pricing critically important. If farmers lock in a lower price when market conditions are favourable, they can realize significant savings throughout the year.

That’s where Rhinehart’s industry experience comes into play. 

“We’ve been in this business for almost 50 years,” Eyre says. “We use that market knowledge to guide farmers on when to buy, even when the markets are unpredictable, like they’ve been recently.”

For example, even a $0.02 difference in price per gallon can translate into thousands of dollars in savings across a large farm’s annual fuel usage. Rhinehart’s ability to negotiate and pass on those savings can directly impact a farm’s bottom line.

But efficiency isn’t just about cost, it’s also about performance. Fuel that burns cleaner and more completely reduces equipment wear, downtime, and emissions. These savings ripple through the operation, from fewer repairs to more uptime in critical windows.

Education: A Key to Smarter Fuel Use

One of Rhinehart Oil’s biggest contributions to the ag sector isn’t just what we deliver in a truck; it’s the knowledge we share. Eyre says:

“A big part of what we do is to help educate the agricultural industry. That includes teaching farmers about the difference between summer and winter fuel specs, how fuel additives work, and why proper tank maintenance matters. For example, some farmers are unaware that summer-grade diesel can gel in cold weather. We see people buying fuel spec’d at 32°F, then hope to use it when it drops below freezing. It gels up and shuts down their equipment. That can delay feeding, harvesting, and dozens of other time-sensitive operations.”

Some farmers assume they can “cut” summer diesel with No. 1 diesel to make it winter-ready, but Eyre is clear: it doesn’t work. “You end up with unusable fuel and a tank you can’t rely on until things warm up again.”

Education also extends to storage issues, tank labelling, and environmental risks. With increasingly strict emissions regulations, Rhinehart ensures its customers are equipped with the knowledge they need to stay compliant.

Smarter Tools: Tank Monitoring That Delivers

One of the most impactful tools Rhinehart offers today is its tank monitoring system. This digital platform allows farmers to track fuel levels remotely, right from their phones.

With this, both farmers and Rhinehart reps receive automatic alerts when fuel drops below key thresholds or if there’s an unusual drop indicating a possible leak or theft. It also alerts users when the tank is refilled, providing complete visibility into usage patterns and inventory turnover.

“It’s a great way to monitor usage, prevent over-ordering, and avoid running out unexpectedly,” says Eyre. “And in some cases, it helps identify issues like employee theft, which unfortunately does happen, even on operations where people have been trusted for years.”

By combining data visibility with predictive reordering and delivery automation, tank monitoring reduces waste and ensures fuel is always available when and where it’s needed. It’s also a practical step toward greater sustainability, helping minimize excess fuel use and avoid the environmental risks of spills and contamination.

These systems also allow operations to benchmark fuel efficiency over time, track seasonal usage trends, and coordinate with equipment maintenance schedules, bringing even more precision to fuel management.

Practical Tips for Fuel Efficiency on the Farm

Rhinehart’s experience working with the agriculture industry has helped them develop several farmer-tested strategies for improving fuel efficiency.

1.  Keep Equipment Well-Maintained

“Well-maintained equipment runs more efficiently, it’s that simple,” says Eyre. 

From keeping tires properly inflated to regularly changing filters and fluids, basic maintenance extends equipment life and improves fuel economy. Farmers are encouraged to follow manufacturer maintenance schedules and look into equipment upgrades that offer better fuel efficiency, emissions control, and onboard monitoring.

2. Use Fuel Additives Strategically

Rhinehart Oil partners with Power Service to offer a full suite of additives that clean tanks, prevent microbial growth, reduce gelling, and optimize fuel combustion. 

“We explain which additive to use and when,” says Eyre. “It’s not just about selling a product, it’s about making their fuel perform better and last longer.”

Additives also play a role in minimizing condensation, a common cause of fuel degradation in long-term storage. Especially in regions with wide temperature swings, this can mean the difference between clean-burning fuel and costly breakdowns.

3. Store Fuel the Right Way

Many farmers make the mistake of overfilling tanks in winter, not realizing that diesel expands in the heat. 

“If you fill a 10,000-gallon tank in winter with 9,000 gallons, it can expand to 9,500 or more in summer,” Eyre says. 

That’s why Rhinehart never fills a tank past 90% capacity, to prevent overflow during seasonal shifts. Storage mistakes can also include contamination from water and condensation. Additives help here, too, as do regular tank inspections and using properly labeled containers for different fuel types to prevent cross-contamination.

4. Invest in Monitoring Technology

The fuel monitoring system offers real-time insights into fuel levels, usage rates, and refill alerts. 

“It’s great for planning,” Eyre says. “And knowing your actual usage helps you buy smarter and avoid unnecessary orders.”

This data can also support broader farm management goals by helping align fuel use with crop calendars, weather forecasts, and equipment needs.

5. Optimize Routes with GPS and Smart Equipment

While Eyre notes that most of the “smart farming” tech he sees is focused on productivity rather than fuel, GPS-guided tractors still offer clear benefits. “With those, you’re eliminating overlap in the field. That’s going to save fuel, no question.”

Some farms are also exploring telematics and fleet management platforms that allow for better tracking of fuel economy, idle time, and equipment utilization across multiple operators and vehicles.

Serving the Remote Corners of Agriculture

One thing that makes Rhinehart Oil unique is its commitment to serving hard-to-reach farming communities.

“In Utah and Idaho, we’ve delivered fuel to places that are four hours down a dirt road,” Eyre shares. “Some of our customers are out in the field all summer long, and we make sure they have what they need.”

Whether it’s scheduling bulk deliveries, setting up temporary tanks, or coordinating with harvest schedules, Rhinehart builds its service model around the farmer, not the other way around. Their ability to deliver at scale is impressive. 

“We’ve got an ag client that took almost 5 million gallons of fuel last year,” Eyre says. “And we have several others that consistently take 1 to 2.5 million gallons annually.”

In an industry where time is money and uptime is everything, this level of consistency is vital.

The Bottom Line: Smarter Fuel Means a Stronger Farm

At the end of the day, Rhinehart Oil is more than a fuel provider, we’re a strategic partner in helping farms become more efficient, sustainable, and profitable.

“We help farmers make smarter decisions,” Eyre says. “From locking in better prices, to maintaining tanks, to using the right additives and monitoring tools, it all adds up. We’re helping them get more out of every gallon.”

And in a world where both margins and environmental regulations are getting tighter, that kind of efficiency isn’t optional, it’s essential.

If you’re looking for ways to reduce fuel waste, improve equipment performance, and gain more control over your operation, Rhinehart Oil is here to help. From bulk fuel delivery and tank monitoring to fuel-saving additives and expert advice, our team is ready to build a custom fuel strategy that fits your farm’s size, location, and goals.

Contact Rhinehart Oil today to learn more about how smarter fuel solutions can power your success, season after season. Here’s everywhere we’re located.