[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ENERGY CRISIS AS IT AFFECTS AGRICULTURE

  (Mr. OSBORNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, 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.

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