Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Burton C. English. I am a staff economist with the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. My area of expertise is in agricultural economics and policy. I wish to thank Congressmen Tom Tauke and Billy Tauzin for inviting me here.

My testimony here today will focus on how agriculture is affected by changes in natural gas prices. In addition, the testimony will focus on supply disruptions such as those that took place in the 1970s and their potential impacts on the nation's agricultural sector. First, however, I will discuss how natural gas is used in the production of crops and livestock.