Energy in corn belt crop production

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:7327119

Lockeretz, W; Klepper, R; Gertler, M; Fast, S; O'Leary, D

The study presents data on the quantity and cost of the energy used to produce corn, soybeans, and wheat in the western part of the Corn Belt in 1974. The analysis covers fuel for field equipment, energy required to manufacture fertilizers and pesticides, and energy for drying corn. Corn is the most energy-intensive of the three crops studied, with soybeans the lowest. The cost of energy for crop production amounts to 11%, 8%, and 6% of the overall direct production costs for corn, wheat, and soybeans, respectively. These energy costs come to less than 3% of the value of the crop in all three cases. (GRA)

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., St. Louis, Mo. (USA). Center for the Biology of Natural Systems
• OSTI ID: 7327119
• Report Number(s): PB-247467; CBNS-AE-5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320301 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Energy Sources
AGRICULTURE
BIOMASS
CEREALS
CROPS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOOD
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
MAIZE
PLANTS
PRODUCTION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOYBEANS
VEGETABLES
WHEAT