Crops Require More Energy Than Livestock – EIA Report

Crop operations consume much more energy than livestock operations, and energy expenditures for crops account for a higher percentage of farm operating costs, according to a recent brief from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The document also states that rice and peanut crops use the most energy per planted acre; wheat, soybean, and oat crops use the least.

Direct energy consumption includes the use of diesel, electricity, propane, and natural gas for farm activities. Indirect energy consumption includes the use of fuel and feedstock in the manufacturing of agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides.

Energy makes up a significant part of operating expenditures for most crops because the production of fertilizer is extremely energy-intensive, requiring large amounts of natural gas. For such crops as oats, corn, wheat, and barley, energy and fertilizer expenditures combined make up more than half of total operating expenses.

Livestock operations consume energy for ventilation systems, refrigeration, lighting, heating, watering, motors, and waste handling, whereas crop operations use energy to plant, harvest, irrigate, and dry crops. S