Energy In Us Agriculture

This report examines recent trends in energy use in the agricultural sector and the extent to which farm businesses engage in on-farm energy production. Increasing volume mandates for cellulosic biofuel in the Renewable Fuel Standard, as well as the shale energy revolution and the promulgation of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), have changed (or could change) agriculture's energy use and production patterns. A small but growing number of farms harvest cellulosic biomass. Also, while the shale revolution contributed to lowering natural gas and fuel prices, domestic fertilizer prices have not substantially diverged from global prices -- even though natural gas remains the major production cost for fertilizer. Enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has declined at a greater rate in counties overlaying shale. The impact of the CPP on farm electricity use is minor, as electricity represents only 1-6% of their total production expenses. Figures and tables. This is a print on demand report.