For decades the Detroit automakers have largely ignored the environmental collision course their vehicle designs (ever increasing sizes of cars and trucks along with minimal gains in fuel economy) have ultimately led to their (almost) industry-wide demise. Year after year, car manufacturers fought tooth and nail the government’s imposing higher mileage standards on new vehicles. Clearly in retrospect, the government didn’t do enough to prod the industry forward, but the automotive industry mainly has itself to blame for the disastrous consequences.
Today, we have the California Farm Bureau Federation arguing for more domestic oil production, criticizing the Obama administration for re-tightening the onshore oil and gas leasing programs on public land. One may pose the question, when does the industrial farm industry begin to recognize that the days of cheap oil (the economic underpinning of industrial farming), those days are numbered. Instead of standing firmly on the side of the Petroleum industry—would they be better serving their farmers to aggressively promote and pursue alternative energy policies toward a sustainable future? How might Detroit’s automotive industry look today had they looked squarely into the eye of their energy future, and recognized in 1973 (during the first energy crisis), a new direction was needed?
Of course, hindsight makes it much easier to witness mistakes, but more valuably, it can also serve as a guide to the future for others.
Here’s an excerpt from the Farm Bureau says new energy policy will harm farmers, regarding this matter:
Actions announced by the Obama administration will slow the federal oil and gas leasing process considerably, and analysts say that means farmers and ranchers will face more expensive fuel and less stable prices.
“The announcement by Secretary Salazar seems counterproductive to our needs as a nation at this point,” said CFBF First Vice President Kenny Watkins, who farms in San Joaquin County. “Our largest cost in agriculture is energy, whether it is fuel, fertilizer or electricity. Many of the products that we use on our farms are petroleum-based, so oil has a huge impact on our bottom line.” …
“It used to be, years ago, they’d deliver 600 gallons to the field and the price tag was $600. When it was $2,400-$2,600 for the same delivery a few years later, that was dramatic,” Ellis said. “I almost hated to call and order fuel because it was so dramatically different. It is difficult to wring that out of your operation.”