congressional research service the library of congress crs report for received through web order code rl32677 energy use in agriculture background and issues november 19 2004 randy schnepf specialist agricultural policy resources science industry division summary requires as an important input to production uses directly fuel or electricity operate machinery equipment heat cool buildings lighting on farm indirectly fertilizers chemicals produced off 2002 us sector used estimated 1 7 quadrillion btu from both direct indirect 0 6 sources however s total is low relative other producing sectors share consumption was about shares nitrogen pesticide two major identified by dept usda are signficantly higher at 56 67 respectively whether crop animal products has become increasingly mechanized timely supplies