Forthcoming energy policies should complement the goal of abundant food supplies at affordable prices, wherever possible. Energy costs represent 8 percent of farm production costs and 12 percent of the consumer food bill. It appears that energy price increases resulting from either the continuation of existing energy policies or the implementation of a moderate energy program could cause farm production costs to increase 2-3 percent from 1975 to 1985 in real terms, with the consumer food bill rising 4-5 percent in real terms. Anticipated price increases appear less significant when compared with the potential havoc that a disruption in the availability of energy supplies could produce for the U.S. food system.