Thomas Mott Osborne: “I would like to talk about energy as it affects agriculture. Due to high fuel prices, the cost of running farm machinery…”

“I would like to talk about energy as it affects agriculture. Due to high fuel prices, the cost of running farm machinery has skyrocketed. In addition, natural gas is necessary to manufacture fertilizers such as anhydrous ammonia. As the planting season approaches, anhydrous ammonia is almost impossible to obtain and extremely expensive if it can be found at all. As a result, the troubled agriculture industry is under even greater stress today than it ever has been. As with most crises, there is also an opportunity. At the present time, we have an excellent opportunity to double or even triple the production of alternative fuels like ethanol and soy diesel. If we do this, three benefits will occur: One, we lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and this will be good for the country. Number two, we will reduce undesirable fuel emissions, and this will be good for the environment. Number three, we will utilize surplus crops in a profitable manner, and this will be good for agriculture.”