WSP10235

• File Number: 8281.910
• Description: Colorado River Studies and Investigations -- Grand Valley Salinity Study
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/1/1976
• Author: Soil Cons Serv
• Title: Grand Valley Salinity Study - draft
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

the farm operation and the efficiency level of water use in th~ farming

13 operation. From available- data, it appears that management is the most

The Investigation - Basic cost-return data were gathered in the Grand

junction area on crops grown, yields, prices received for crops, types

23 and cost of equipment used, land values and other variables. Question-

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AGRICULTURAL ECQNOMICS.

Cost return data, by crop, was. developed for high, medium, and low

management levels of water use to determine the impact on yields,

irrigation labor costs, net returns and returns to management in the

Grand Valley. The cost-return data was prepared for three typical farm

operations in the valley: a ISO-acre full time unit; a 25-acre part time

unit, and a 10-acre orchard unit. These crop budgets can be used to

evaluate the economic incentive for farmers in the Grand Valley area of

increasing their irrigation efficiencies.

Levels of Farm Management - Levels of management in the Grand Valley are

quite divergent and in general. reflect the degree of profitability of

significant factor in attaining high on-farm irrigation efficiency.

This includes not only efficient water management, but also efficient

management of cultural practices.

The level of management not only varies with irrigation efficiency, but

also with soil type, whether a farmer is full or part time, and to what

extent a farm manager changes his method of operation based on new

technology.

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