<p>This study utilizes provincial panel data from China spanning 2011 to 2023, employing the super-efficiency Epsilon-Based Measure (EBM) model and the Global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) index to investigate the spatio-temporal aspects and determinants of agricultural energy efficiency (AEE). Subsequently, employing a two-way fixed effects model and a nonlinear mediation effect model, it elucidates the impact of digital inclusive finance (DIF) on AEE and its underlying mechanisms. The findings suggest AEE exhibits a fluctuating upward trend over time, solely driven by technology change. There is a strong positive U-shaped relationship between DIF and AEE. The results remained resilient following robustness and endogeneity tests, and most Chinese provinces have yet to surpass the inflection point when DIF improves AEE. Moreover, among the secondary indicators of DIF, both the breadth of scope and the level of digitalization demonstrate significant positive U-shaped correlations with AEE. The action mechanism result indicates that DIF indirectly influences AEE via the allocation of agricultural resources. The heterogeneity results indicate that the significant U-shaped effect of DIF on AEE is more pronounced in regions with high-tech innovation levels, eastern and northeastern China.</p>