Energy-based analysis of alternative production methods and cropping systems in the Corn Belt

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:5213271

Doering, III, O C

The overall objective was to identify systems and methods that would reduce total energy inputs relative to amount of product. Each of 6 cropping systems was simulated through 7 years of weather (1968 through 1974). This report emphasizes the development of a system of analysis, rather than extensive results or conclusions. In terms of energy policy it is important to recognize that the diffuse nature of agricultural production results in resource-use decisions being made by several million individual production units. Unless government develops the capacity to dictate resource use and allocation decisions at these individual locations it will have to be content with the price and resource decisions made individually by each producing unit. It is in designing policy to fit the individual resource decisions that it is absolutely essential to link the economic analysis with the technical feasibility of the input/output simulator. A cropping system might be identified with a preferred re-allocation of total resources based on an improvement in energy efficiency. At this point the economic model can be used to approximate the range of relative input and output prices necessary to encourage such a cropping system and resource shift.

• Research Organization: Purdue Univ., Lafayette, Ind. (USA). Agricultural Experiment Station
• OSTI ID: 5213271
• Report Number(s): NSF/RA-770125
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290100 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Analysis & Modeling
291000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
298000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320301 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Energy Sources
553000 -- Agriculture & Food Technology
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
AGRICULTURE
ALFALFA
BEANS
BIOMASS
CEREALS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CROPS
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES
DECISION MAKING
ECONOMETRICS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY MODELS
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOOD
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
INDIANA
INTERCHANGEABILITY
LEGUMINOSAE
LINEAR PROGRAMMING
MAIZE
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SIMULATION
SOYBEANS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
USA
VEGETABLES
WEATHER
WHEAT
YIELDS