The benefit of changing to Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) from uniform application methods needs to be assessed for technology adoption. Precision irrigation involves water application in optimum amounts. Results indicate that feasibility of precision irrigation depends on field variability,...

The declining availability of irrigation water from the Ogallala aquifer combined with increasing energy costs make irrigation strategies much more critical. Irrigation strategies that maximize returns to irrigation require less water and achieve higher returns than strategies aimed at...

The declining availability of irrigation water from the Ogallala aquifer combined with increasing energy costs make irrigation strategies much more critical. Maximizing yield reduces profit by between $22 and $158 per acre depending on the combination of corn and natural gas prices.

An economic optimization model was developed using available groundwater resources in the Oklahoma Panhandle to estimate value of water for irrigated agriculture in the area. The model will serve as policy tool to analyze alternative water management strategies and conservation programs to...

In response to the declining availability of irrigation water from the Ogallala aquifer, irrigation at the level where MVP=MFC increases net returns over either irrigating to maximize production or meet 100% of the evapotranspiration (PET) requirements. This prolongs the economic life of the...

Due to declining water availability from the Ogallala Aquifer, management policy alternatives for extending the life of the aquifer to sustain rural economies in the Texas Panhandle are evaluated. The study concludes that water conservation policies for the region significantly impact crop mix,...

Replaced with revised version of paper 05/04/06.

Production budgets for dryland crop and crop/livestock systems are developed to estimate yields, costs and returns for dryland wheat and sorghum and for alternative dryland crop/livestock systems. A crop simulation model aids yield estimation. The yield and return distributions are used to...

Beef cattle enterprises for the 91% of Texas producers with less than 100 cows represent secondary or supplemental enterprises. In most cases the operator is depending on surplus or discretional labor and the alternate use of the physical resources is limited due to topography or environmental...

Optimization models are developed to determine grazing alternatives for individual dryland producers. Models alternatives include wheat, sorghum-sudan, summer perennial grass, and native range. Precipitation risk and price risk are estimated for seasonal production alternatives, and options that...