Energy Use and Cost of Starting Seedlings at Three Iowa Farms

Published Dec 2, 2014

Three farms recorded the energy used during seed starting for the 2013 season. For each plant started, energy cost ranged from $0.002 – $0.033. Commercial grow lights were the most energy intensive item used by any farmer in the study. Though energy efficiency improvements could be made, farmers found that starting their own seeds was cost-effective.