Optimum dryland and irrigation farming for a representative Southwest Missouri prairie soil farm

Abstract

"OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop optimal plans for 1975 dryland and irrigation farms in the Southwest Missouri Prairie Soil Region and to identify adjustments that might result from irrigation. Specific objectives were: 1. to analyze returns from alternative high profit irrigation and non-irrigation plans. 2. to examine the effect of labor availability on returns on irrigation and non-irrigation farms. 3. to evaluate the effects changing livestock prices have upon farm organizations. 4. to project area adjustments that might occur if irrigation is adopted on a widespread basis in Southwest Missouri. The procedures used to accomplish the above objectives were completed through the development of one-man and two-man optimal farm plans for dryland and irrigation farming from several different resources-alternative enterprises situ­ ations. Farm plans for dryland farming were compared with farm plans with irrigation included. Three different systems of irrigation were used in the comparison.Alternative farm plans were then programmed for situations where high-profit livestock activities were deleted. Plans were developed for one-man and two-man operations for both dryland and irrigation farming. Only one system of irrigation was used in the comparison. Other farm plans for dryland and irrigation farming were developed for changes in prices of livestock, irrigated corn yields, cropland resources, and capital. Analysis and comparison of the plans provided infor­ mation on the profitability of each irrigation system and on the adjustments needed under various situations when irrigation was an alternative crop input."--Page 3.