A Linear Programming Analysis of Irrigation in Mason County

The linear programming technique was used to develop farm plans for a 470-acre model farm in Mason County, Illinois. These farm plans give the highest net return above variable costs for each of four basic situations: no irrigation, 150 acres irrigated, 287 acres irrigated, and 437 acres irrigated....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Illinois agricultural economics 1970-01, Vol.10 (1), p.15-18
Main Authors: Papst, W. A., Swanson, E. R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beans
Crop economics
Crops
Cucumbers
Irrigated farming
Irrigation
Irrigation equipment
Irrigation systems
Linear programming
Vegetable crops
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Summary:The linear programming technique was used to develop farm plans for a 470-acre model farm in Mason County, Illinois. These farm plans give the highest net return above variable costs for each of four basic situations: no irrigation, 150 acres irrigated, 287 acres irrigated, and 437 acres irrigated. The results indicate that cucumbers and green beans had first priority for land that was irrigated. However, because of contract restrictions and labor requirements for these crops, corn occupies over one-half of the irrigated land when equipment is available to irrigate 437 acres. The highest return plans were found to be relatively insensitive to changes in relative prices and yields. There was a declining rate of return on added investment in irrigation equipment as the area irrigated increased; the rate of return on equipment to irrigate the first 150 acres was 37 percent, while the rate of return on the added investment necessary to irrigate 150 additional acres from a base of 287 acres was only 7 percent.
ISSN:0019-1833
DOI:10.2307/1348912