tion structures and equipment. See Part B, Objec- 

 tive 26 in the Worl< Plan. 



Rationale: Irrigators need assistance with ap- 

 plying current irrigation technologies in order to 

 improve their efficiencies. 



FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION 



Situation 



The production of food and fiber is a broad subject 

 and encompasses all of Montana's resources. Future food 

 and fiber production is dependent on the proper care of 

 our soil, water, agricultural land and forest land. 

 However, these particular resources are addressed in 

 other sections of this plan; in following the conservation 

 districts concerns this section will address increased costs 

 and increased energy consumption as it relates to food 

 and fiber production in Montana. 



Closely tied to the problem of increasing costs of food 

 and fiber production is increased energy consumption on 

 the farm and loss of productive land (see Land Use 

 Changes section for more information on loss of produc- 

 tive lands). To decrease production costs and assure a 

 continued source of food and fiber, in light of decreasing 

 fossil fuel supplies, the long range solution must involve a 

 transition to a food production system that is minimally 

 dependent on fossil fuels. 



Quenton M. West, administrator of USDA's 

 Economic Research Service, notes, "while we have about 



doubled farm output in the last 30 years, we have more 

 than quadrupled our fuel consumption— so that farm out- 

 put per gallon of fuel has declined by half" (MHD 1977). It 

 is estimated that U.S. agriculture could reduce energy 

 consumption 20-30 percent by substituting alternative 

 production methods by using machinery more efficiently 

 (MHD 1977). 



In Montana expenditures on fossil fuel for agricultural 

 production have increased dramatically. From 1964 to 

 1974 agricultural expenditures for petroleum products in- 

 creased by 76 percent, and expenditures for commercial 

 (synthetic) fertilizers rose by 418 percent (U.S. Depart- 

 ment of Commerce 1969, 1974). Table 3 shows the 

 amounts spent by Montana agricultural producers for 

 fossil fuels or fossil fuel-related products. Irrigators who 

 use electrically powered systems can expect an increase 

 of 429 percent in the price of electricity, if a current ap- 

 plication for rate increase to the Public Service Commis- 

 sion by Montana Power Co. is accepted (Docket No. 

 80.4.2 Phase II 1981). 



TABLE 3. FOSSIL FUEL-RELATED COSTS FOR 

 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN MONTANA 



1964 



1974 



Gasoline $19,858,653 



Diesel oil 5,999,430 



LP gas, butane, and propane 976,763 



Motor oil, grease, fuel oil, 



and kerosene 2,965,605 



Commercial (synthetic) fertilizer 7,466,191 



Total 37,266,642 



Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1969, 1974. 



$30,491,000 



15,142,000 



2,472,000 



4,374,000 

 38,685,000 

 91,164,000 



10 



