Adequate food supplies and a reasonable quality of life require energy - both in commercial and non-commercial terms. This handbook is intended as a reference for individuals, many of whom are located in remote areas with limited library resources, who want a comprehensive overview of energy for agriculture. The purpose is to put energy for agriculture in perspective by presenting numerous national and regional examples of energy usage. Since the early 1970s, world petroleum prices have fluctuated from US$3/barrel to more than US$40/barrel in 1981, and then back to one-third of the peak price today. Consequently, the rural sector depends heavily on non-commercial energy sources. Availability of such energy is highly site-specific. This handbook deals extensively with non-commercial energy - its sources, the technologies for converting energy to more useful gaseous and liquid forms, and its ultimate end uses.