Larry J. Held

Impact of Machinery Ownership Costs on Risk Efficiency and Farm Organization

Risk efficient crop enterprise combinations are developed on the basis of fixed machinery ownership costs (depreciation, interest, taxes, insurance, and housing) as well as variable operating costs in the optimizing process using a mixed-integer risk programming model. Selected solutions optimized with (versus without) machinery ownership costs tend to be less diversified with larger-sized crop acreage that capitalize on lower per unit fixed costs. In addition, they show lower income variability at comparable levels of income.

Performance of Risk-Income Models Outside the Original Data Set

Selected risk programming solutions (i.e., profit maximization, Target-MOTAD, and MOTAD) are tested in an economic environment outside the data set from which they were developed. Specifically, solutions are derived from either a longer 10-year (1965-74) or shorter 6-year estimation period (1969-74), and then, they are tested for consistent risk-income characteristics over a later 10-year period (1975-84). Risk solutions estimated from earlier periods perform well in the later test period in spite of different economic conditions between time periods. However, favorable performance may be related to the specific example used in this analysis. Further testing for other farm situations is needed before general conclusions can be reached.

Assessment of Microirrigation for Sugarbeet Production

ABSTRACT Sugarbeet (SB) is a major value-crop in many furrow (Fu) irrigated areas of Wyoming where nitrate (NO3) contamination prevails. Microirrigation (M) may be an option for managing such pollution while sustaining SB production. With the goal of evaluating efficacy of M for SB production, in comparison to Fu practice, studies were conducted through field experiments, computer simulations, and economic assessments. The field study with SB consisted of a Fu and three M treatments (M1, M2, and M3 representing a management allowable depletion factor of 0.20, 0.35, and 0.50, respectively) and three fertilizer doses. Water use, post-harvest soil NO3 concentrations, SB yields, and water percolation were measured. Computer simulations were performed using a transport and irrigation model to predict soil NO3 concentrations and the results were compared with the experimental data. The economic feasibility of adopting M for 10 to 40 ha area was evaluated using a capital budgeting analysis. Results of field studies indicated lower water use, higher soil NO3 levels, less water percolation and greater SB yields with M than under Fu practice. The yields increased as management allowable depletion factor and fertilizer rate augmented. Computer simulations predicted that post-harvest soil NO3 concentrations were higher when SB were irrigated with M rather than Fu practice. Simulation results were comparable with the field data. The economic analysis indicated that irrigation costs decreased and SB returns increased with M practice. Results of capital budgeting showed that adoption of M in Wyoming was feasible for small-scale SB production. The profitability of the M system was dependent on the irrigation regime and the conversion area.

Production and Quality of Forage and Economics of Grazing a Hay Meadow in the Spring

Abstract An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of spring grazing on forage DM production and nutritive value, as well as the economics of spring grazing a flood-irrigated hay meadow. Two vegetation types were present: predominantly ‘Garrison’ fcreeping foxtail (Alopecurus arundinanceus Poir) and a complex mixture with both introduced and native species. With use of cages, samples of ungrazed and grazed treatments were collected before and after grazing and also in August. Eighty-eight Angus × Gelbvieh rotationally-crossed heifers (average BW = 361.3 kg) were allowed to graze from May 27 to June 8 at 5.4 heifers/ha. A sampling date effect (P