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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Energy in Western US agriculture

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5485314
Recent developments have created economic pressures necessitating a reexamination of energy-intensive methods. This study represents a collective regional effort in this direction. Energy use in selected crop and livestock commodities in a number of states in the Western Region is examined. The relationship between energy and water use in explored in terms of energy-water tradeoffs and competing uses for water. Price and rationing implications of energy policy are discussed. Some aspects of energy conservation such as the impact of technological changes and differing cultural practices are analyzed. The study concludes that energy price increases or supply reductions would significantly affect the livestock and crop industries in the region. Three energy-related inputs that have a major impact on agricultural productivity are nitrogenous fertilizers, pesticides, and fuel inputs. The expansion of irrigated agriculture in the Pacific Northwest could entail major social costs in terms of foregone hydropower. The effects of increased energy costs on agricultural production would vary according to irrigation water source.
Research Organization:
Hawaii Univ., Honolulu (USA). Coll. of Tropical Agriculture
OSTI ID:
5485314
Report Number(s):
NP-2902522; ON: DE82902522
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English