http://www.fromthewilderness.com/fre...ating_oil.html

Extract

In the United States, 400 gallons of oil equivalents are expended
annually to feed each American (as of data provided in 1994).7
Agricultural energy consumption is broken down as follows:

· 31% for the manufacture of inorganic fertilizer

· 19% for the operation of field machinery

· 16% for transportation

· 13% for irrigation

· 08% for raising livestock (not including livestock feed)

· 05% for crop drying

· 05% for pesticide production

· 08% miscellaneous

Energy costs for packaging, refrigeration, transportation to retail
outlets, and household cooking are not considered in these figures.

On Fri, 26 Mar 2004 21:54:31 -0500, Jim wrote:

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/fre...ating_oil.html

Extract

In the United States, 400 gallons of oil equivalents are expended
annually to feed each American (as of data provided in 1994).7
Agricultural energy consumption is broken down as follows:

· 31% for the manufacture of inorganic fertilizer

· 19% for the operation of field machinery

· 16% for transportation

· 13% for irrigation

· 08% for raising livestock (not including livestock feed)

· 05% for crop drying

· 05% for pesticide production

· 08% miscellaneous

Energy costs for packaging, refrigeration, transportation to retail
outlets, and household cooking are not considered in these figures.

And now for something on topic!

From : http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?p...otb_2002_index

Each year, roughly 300 million pounds of nitrogen overload the
Chesapeake Bay's waterways. Nitrogen enters the Bay system mainly
through farmland runoff, airborne and land-based sources (power
plants, vehicles, and sprawling development), urban and suburban
runoff, and outdated sewage treatment plants that discharge nitrogen
in concentrations six times what scientists say is healthy for the
Bay.
Nitrogen pollution affects most of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's
(CBF's) thirteen Bay health index indicators. While this year's
extreme drought slowed the flow of nitrogen to the Chesapeake,
nitrogen pollution will again increase with normal rainfall because
regulators and Bay states have not yet taken meaningful long-term
steps to fix the problem. More than any other single factor, excess
nitrogen is the reason that, in 2002, the Bay's health index showed no
improvement. The score remains at 27, the same overall as in CBF's
2001 State of the Bay Report and one point lower than in both 1999 and
2000.

In 2000, Bay leaders pledged to reduce nitrogen pollution sufficiently
to remove the Bay from the U.S. EPA's list of impaired waters by 2010.
CBF's best science estimates that nitrogen will have to be reduced by
roughly 150 million pounds a year to hit that goal, which would result
in a health index of 40.

"That a global treasure like the Chesapeake Bay is on the EPA's dirty
waters list is a tragedy and a national embarrassment," said CBF
President William C. Baker. "Now is the time for our leaders--and
especially the U.S. EPA and signatory jurisdictions--to demonstrate
their true commitment to bringing back the Bay. They should begin by
aggressively supporting efforts to clean up our sewage plants and to
reduce pollution from agriculture."


Our vision for the future is a Bay watershed that is broadly
recognized as a national treasure, is highly productive, and is in
good health--as measured by water clarity, lack of toxic contaminants,
and an abundance of natural filters in the water and on the land. To
make this dream a reality, CBF has put together a "blueprint" for a
saved Bay. We define that Bay as one with a health index of 70 and
hope to reach it by 2050. As an interim goal, we see a substantive
improvement from today's score of 27 to 40 by 2010 as ambitious but
attainable.

To reach 40 by 2010 and 70 by 2050, CBF will lead the way to improve
water quality, mainly by reducing nitrogen pollution as well as
toxics. We must also preserve and protect our forests, farms, and
wetlands, as well as important Bay fisheries such as rockfish, crabs,
oysters, and shad. We must educate the next generation of Bay stewards
and mobilize citizens throughout the watershed to act on the Bay's
behalf.

While keeping in mind this comprehensive plan, one that restores
natural filters as it tackles water pollution, CBF is now focusing on
reducing nitrogen pollution. The way to do this is through sewage
treatment upgrades--the first and easiest step to decrease nitrogen
loads--and by working with farmers to reduce pollution from
agriculture, the overall largest single source of nitrogen in the
watershed.

With true commitment from all, we believe we can save the Bay by
reaching our goals of 40 by 2010 and 70 by 2050. Our greatest gift to
our children and the generations that follow them will be to invest in
restoring our precious Bay. We should settle for nothing less.


To create the State of the Bay Report, CBF scientists examine the best
available current and historical information for indicators in three
categories: pollution, habitat, and fish and shellfish. Although we
seek advice from other Bay scientists, ultimately the best
professional judgment of CBF scientists determines the value assigned
each factor.

The current state of the Bay is measured against the healthiest
Chesapeake we can describe--the rich and balanced Bay that Captain
John Smith described in his exploration narratives of the early 1600s,
supplemented by accounts of other early seventeenth-century visitors
and some sophisticated scientific detective work. Smith explored the
Chesapeake when clear water revealed meadows of underwater grasses,
oyster reefs so prodigious they posed threats to navigation, and
abundant fish. The Bay that John Smith saw, which was basically
uninfluenced by human actions, rates 100 and is our benchmark.

The State of the Bay Report tells us how far we have fallen from
Smith's Bay and how great our challenge is to create a "saved" Bay.
With your help, and commitment from our political leaders, we will see
a Bay that reaches 40 by 2010 and 70 by 2050.

Health Indices
Habitat Fisheries Pollution
Wetlands 42
Forested Buffers 54
Underwater
Grasses 12
Resource Lands 30

Crabs 40
Rockfish 75
Oysters 2
Shad 7
Toxics 28
Water Clarity 16
Phosphorus 16
Nitrogen 16
Dissolved Oxygen 15


Average 27


John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!