Department of Agriculture Could Do More To Help Farmers Conserve Energy
EMD-82-30
Published: Sep 30, 1982. Publicly Released: Oct 07, 1982.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed energy conservation measures which farmers could adopt in the near-term and federal efforts to assist farmers in adopting such measures.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture should assign to the newly reestablished USDA Office of Energy responsibility for developing and carrying out an enhanced effort to promote energy conservation by farmers. Using its broad authority, this Office could coordinate and influence energy conservation activities of USDA field agencies to help assure that farmers receive assistance in identifying cost-effective energy conservation measures applicable to their specific farming situations. |
Closed – Implemented
Agriculture replied that the Office of Energy: (1) was already responsible for energy policy development and coordination; and (2) would be more active in coordinating and stressing technology transfer. The Office indicated several actions partially responsive or not germane to this recommendation.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy should enter into an Interagency Agreement, pursuant to the general USDA/DOE Memorandum of Understanding, for USDA to perform the overall management and monitoring of the ongoing DOE energy integrated farm systems demonstration projects. This should help assure that the government's interests are protected and that the results of these projects are made available to the agricultural community. |
Closed – Implemented
Agriculture agreed if DOE was willing to fund its participation. DOE disagreed with this recommendation.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy should enter into an Interagency Agreement, pursuant to the general USDA/DOE Memorandum of Understanding, for USDA to perform the overall management and monitoring of the ongoing DOE energy integrated farm systems demonstration projects. This should help assure that the government's interests are protected and that the results of these projects are made available to the agricultural community. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE disagreed and cited that: (1) most projects were in final stages and transfer to USDA would delay them; (2) when management responsibility was transferred to the Idaho Operations Office, funds were allocated for project completion and technology transfer; and (3) a technology transfer plan was initiated for providing information regularly to farmers.
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Topics
Agricultural programsConsumer educationCost analysisEnergy conservationWater supply managementConservation tillageFarmingIrrigation projectEnergy savingsAgricultural production