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Energy Use in U.S. Agriculture: Early Adjustment to the 1973-74 Price Shock

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2016

John M. Gowdy ,
Jack L. Miller  and
Hamid Kherbachi
John M. Gowdy
Affiliation:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Jack L. Miller
Affiliation:
State University of New Yorkat Oswego
Hamid Kherbachi
Affiliation:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Abstract

Using input-output tables for 1972 and 1977 we examine direct and indirect energy use in the production of fourteen U.S. agricultural products. We find that between 1972 and 1977 energy use increased in absolute terms but decreased in terms of Btus required per dollar of output.

Although this trend is encouraging in terms of the long-run ability of U.S. agriculture to adjust to higher energy prices, the following caveats should be mentioned; (1) a large part of the decrease in primary energy intensity is attributable to one sector, meat animals, (2) there was a substantial increase in electricity intensity in almost all sectors, and (3) there was an increase in the use of energy embodied in fertilizers and agricultural chemicals in the very important food grain and feed sectors.

Keywords

energyinput-outputtechnological change
Type
Submitted Articles
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , December 1987 , pp. 33 - 42
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1987

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