In 2016, the agricultural sector consumed 1,872 trillion Btu of energy, accounting for about 1.9 percent of total U.S. primary energy consumption.
Farms consume energy in many forms, mainly diesel (44 percent of direct energy consumption), electricity (24 percent), natural gas (13 percent), gasoline (11 percent), and liquefied petroleum gas (7 percent). Diesel and, to a lesser extent, gasoline are used to power farm machinery. Electricity is used mainly for irrigation, cooling, and lighting. Natural gas and LP gas are used in heating and grain drying. Large amounts of natural gas are required in the manufacturing of fertilizer and pesticide, so these amounts are categorized as indirect energy consumption on farms.
Overall, about three-fifths of energy in 2016 used in the agricultural sector was consumed directly on-farm, while two-fifths were consumed indirectly in the form of fertilizer and pesticides. Recent increases in diesel and fertilizer consumption come in response to declining oil and natural gas prices. From 2012 to 2015, agriculture became more energy intensive, as energy consumption grew over 10 percent compared with about 6 percent growth in agricultural output.
This chart updates data found in the ERS report, Trends in U.S. Agriculture's Consumption and Production of Energy: Renewable Power, Shale Energy, and Cellulosic Biomass, released August 2016.

Announcements
Job Offers

- Junior Quality Control Technician
- Regional Sales Manager - Root, Switzerland
- Horticulture Specialist - Guelph (Ontario) Canada
- Technical Director - Brussels, Belgium
- Senior Maintenance Engineer - USA East coast greenhouse facility, location negotiable
- Greenhouse Assistant - Abbotsford (BC) Canada
- Technical Service Manager - remote, US based
- Chief agronomic / Head grower
- Senior Growing (Horticulture) Technician - Australia
- Lead Manager / Grower Mexico
"Tweeting Growers"
Top 5 -yesterday
Top 5 -last week
Top 5 -last month
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
- 2020-12-16 Pilot project to recycle crypto mining farm energy waste into energy for greenhouses
- 2020-12-04 Growing blackberries more energy-efficient with LED lighting
- 2020-12-03 US (SC): Rolls-Royce’s MTU Aiken plant celebrates 10-year anniversary
- 2020-12-02 CAN (QC): Clean energy at a discounted rate now available to more greenhouse growers
- 2020-11-27 Tips for efficient energy conservation in a greenhouse
- 2020-11-26 Using small wind turbines for electricity in Greek greenhouses
- 2020-11-25 Q8Oils and INNIO engage in long-term partnership for lubricating Jenbacher gas engines
- 2020-11-25 Heating systems for a temperate greenhouse
- 2020-11-13 Village Farms' clean energy subsidiary renewed
- 2020-11-09 Design, control, and performance aspects of semi-closed greenhouses
- 2020-11-05 Energy transition in greenhouses
- 2020-11-04 UK: Reduce energy costs for winter
- 2020-10-27 New partnership will explore green hydrogen solutions for horticulture in the UK
- 2020-10-15 Focus on the use of regenerative energies
- 2020-10-09 Spinach: Good for Popeye and the Planet
- 2020-10-09 “We’ve made everything international in the new version”
- 2020-10-07 The right wood?
- 2020-10-05 "Green ammonia can be essential to enable sustainable food production"
- 2020-09-29 "Grow your margins as well as your plants"
- 2020-09-25 Geothermal energy for greenhouse application