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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />-, <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />t <br />II <br />I <br />I <br />, <br /> <br />1997 <br /> <br />It is not the purpose of this study to conceive alternative cropping <br /> <br />patterns that include significant acreages of crops that have not <br /> <br />been commercially produced and proven under project area climatic <br /> <br />and natural resource conditions. The more conservative approach is <br /> <br />to base the alternative cropping pattern on crops that have exhibited <br />historic proven production performance with crop selection and <br /> <br />acreage based on maximizing potential economic benefits while <br /> <br />maintaining a reasonable diversity in the commodities produced. <br />However, American agriculture is dynamic; growers are constantly <br />experimenting with new varieties, crop production techniques, and <br />untried crops in order to improve the economic returns from their <br /> <br />agricultural operations. These efforts coupled with on-going <br /> <br />research by private companies and state/federal agencies have led to <br />the historic improvements in crop production practices and yields. <br />Thus, the most reasonable approach is to include crops with proven <br />historic production performance and analyze additional unproven <br /> <br />crops that appear to have a reasonable potential to be economically <br /> <br />successful in the project area. These additional crops are selected <br />based on university/grower research and experience along with the <br />experience and judgement of the Boyle project team. Crops suited to <br />project area natural resource and climatic conditions that have been <br /> <br />considered for inclusion into the alternative cropping patterns for <br /> <br />Ute Indian Reservation lands are summarized in Table 6.1. <br /> <br />Potential maximum crop yields are estimated for each crop based on <br /> <br />6- 2 <br />