High gas prices have some looking at alternative methods for creating fuel.

According to the Energy Information Administration the price of diesel fuel has increased 10% in the last week.

Regular gasoline is up 5%.

There is a growing movement in the agricultural community to help solve the energy crisis.

As gas prices continue to sky rocket the need for alternative fuel sources like ethanol are on the rise.

Corn and soybean are the leading sources of the fuel, and Florida Peanut Producers’ Association Executive Director Ken Barton says lately, farmers can't grow them fast enough.

"The demand for the domestic use in corn for ethanol production and also for human consumption and the world wide demand just puts those grains in very, very short supply," Barton said.

Barton says the supply is the lowest it's ever been, but the demand is boosting crop prices.

Those higher prices are helping farmers rebound from years of losses.

"Farmers are very much affected by the cost of energy now, especially with the prices diesel fuels were using in the fields," Barton adds.

As the demand for ethanol increases, so will the need for this product, which other crop producers are trying to get in on the action.

"We are in the process now of doing some scientific research using peanut oil to manufacture bio-diesel. It shows a lot of promise; it can easily be made into bio-diesel," Barton continued.

However, the big question is, is it economically feasible and cheaper than conventional fuels?

Barton says that's what their researchers are focusing on. “We have some of the nation’s top scientists working on the bio-diesel from peanut and peanut oil, and it shows some great promise."

Barton says if their goal is realized, not only will peanut become another source for fuel, but peanut producers could see a rise in profits.

"It should create a lager demand for peanuts. And, farmers in the area have the capability to expand if those bio-diesel plants that use peanuts are put into production and are perfected," Barton concluded.

Officials say it could take several years before the benefits of the research are seen in the market.