Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T19:35:02.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, R., King, G., and Johnston, W.. “Effects of Energy Cost Increases and Regional Allocation Policies on Agricultural Production.” Amer. J. Agr. Econ., 59 (1977):444–455.Google Scholar
Ball, V. “Output, Input, and Productivity Measurement in U.S. Agriculture, 1948–79.” Amer. J. Agr. Econ., 67 (1985):475–486.Google Scholar
Barnett, H., and Morse, C.. Scarcity and Growth. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1963.Google Scholar
Binswanger, H. “A Cost Function Approach to the Measurement of Elasticities of Factor Demand and Elasticities of Substitution.” Amer. J. Agr. Econ., 56 (1974):377–386.Google Scholar
Bullard, C., and Herendeen, R.. “Energy Impact of Consumption Decisions.” Proceeding of the IEEE, 63, 3(1975):484–493.Google Scholar
Casler, S., and Wilbur, S.. “Energy Input-Output Analysis.” Resources and Energy, 6 (1984):187–201.Google Scholar
Flaschel, P. “Input-Output Technology Assumptions and the Energy Requirements of Commodities.” Resources and Energy, 4 (1982):359–389.Google Scholar
Gowdy, J. “Industrial Demand for Natural Gas.” Energy Econ., 5 (1983):171–177.Google Scholar
Hannon, B., Blazek, T., Kennedy, D., and Illyes, R.. “A Comparison of Energy Intensities 1963, 1967 and 1972.” Resources and Energy, 5 (1983):84–102.Google Scholar
Hoch, I. Energy Use in the United States by State and Region. Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C., 1978.Google Scholar
Lamm, R., and Westcott, P.. “The Effects of Changing Input Costs on Food Prices.” Amer. J. Agr. Econ., 63 (1981):187–196.Google Scholar
Maddigan, R., Chern, W., and Rizy, C.. “The Irrigation Demand for Electricity.” Amer. J. Agr. Econ., 64 (1982):673–680.Google Scholar
Miller, R., and Blair, P.. Input-Output Analysis and Extensions. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1985.Google Scholar
Netschert, B. Prepared comments, Proceedings of the Workshop on Modeling the Interrelationships Between the Energy Sector and the General Economy. Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI SR-45, July 1976.Google Scholar
Pimentel, D., Hurd, L., Bellotti, A., Forster, M., Oka, N., Sholes, O., and Whitman, R.. “Food Production and the Energy Crisis.” Science, 182 (1973):443–449.Google Scholar
Ray, S. “A Translog Cost Function Analysis of U.S. Agriculture, 1939–77.” Amer. J. Agr. Econ., 64 (1982):490–498.Google Scholar
Ruttan, V. “Increasing Productivity and Efficiency in Agriculture.” Science, 231 (1986):781.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Detailed Input-Output Structure of the U.S. Economy, 1972. Washington, D.C.: U.S.G.P.O., 1979.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Detailed Input-Output Structure of the U.S. Economy, 1977. Washington, D.C.: U.S.G.P.O., 1984.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Annual Energy Review 1984. Washington, D.C., April 1985.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. End Use Energy Consumption Data Base: Series I Tables. June 1978.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. State Energy Data Report, Consumption Estimates 1960-1982. DOE/EIA-0214(82). May 1984.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Time Series Data for Input-Output Industries. Washington, D.C., July 1984.Google Scholar
Weaver, R. D. “Multiple Input, Multiple Output Production Choices and Technology in the U.S. Wheat Region.” Amer. J. Agr. Econ., 65(1983):45–56.Google Scholar