What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different sources of power supply to the agricultural animal industry? What are the long- and short-term environmental impacts of the different sources of power supply to the animal industry?

Animal Agricultural Power Supply

Agriculture has evolved from an activity accomplished with purely human labor, to a combination of human and animal power, to now an industry reliant on mechanical power.

In your opinion, what has been the cause and effect of this evolution?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different sources of power supply to the agricultural animal industry?

What are the long- and short-term environmental impacts of the different sources of power supply to the animal industry?

What are the long- and short-term economic impacts of the different sources of power supply to the animal industry?

When you think about the power needs of today’s agricultural industry, what role do you see for the use of renewable energy?

Can renewable energy provide the quantity and reliability of energy for commercial animal agriculture? (thought prompt: Dairies that use robot milking and rotating parlors, beef feedlots that rely of mechanical means for feeding of animals, etc.)