Transportation fuel requirements in the food and fiber system
Continued spot shortages of diesel fuel and gasoline could disrupt the flow of food and fiber from farmers to consumers. It took an estimated 2892 million gallons of diesel fuel and 411 million gallons of gasoline to transport farm inputs, commodities, and manufactured food products in 1977. Demands for transportation fuel are likely to increase in the foreseeable future. Transportation of farm inputs required 619 million gallons of fuel. The biggest user of this was the distribution of fertilizer products, which required 195 million gallons. Moving agricultural commodities from farmers to processors required 1416 million gallons of fuel. The biggest requirements were 654 million gallons for grains and soybeans and 525 million gallons for fruits and vegetables. It took 1268 million gallons of fuel to transport manufactured food products from processors to warehouses and supermarkets. Truck shipments made up 41% of total ton-miles in the food and fiber system in 1977 and required 2529 million gallons of fuel, or 77% of the total. Rail movements required 665 million gallons, or 20%. Barge shipments accounted for most of the remainder. Transportation fuel requirements for different products can vary by region, season, and year. Variations can be large on the local level because of regional specialization in production, yield changes, and market considerations. Fruits and vegetables going to processors are the most seasonal of the major commodities, while animal products and manufactured food products exhibit no significant seasonal shipping patterns. Variability in grain, soybean, fruit, and vegetable production has the greatest impact on fuel requirements.
- OSTI ID:
- 6748608
- Report Number(s):
- NP-25200
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: Agricultural Economic Report No. 444
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COMMODITIES
TRANSPORT
FOOD INDUSTRY
FUELS
TEXTILE INDUSTRY
BARGES
DEMAND FACTORS
FIBERS
RAIL TRANSPORT
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
TRUCKS
INDUSTRY
VARIATIONS
VEHICLES
320301* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Energy Sources
320202 - Energy Conservation
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& Utilization- Transportation- Railway
320203 - Energy Conservation
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320204 - Energy Conservation
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