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<br />ni.WH1
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<br />REVIEW COPY
<br />SUBJECT TO REVISION
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<br />Reeommendations
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<br />The enabling legislation for the High Plains Study (P.L. 94-587, Sec. 193) states
<br />in part, "...In order to assure an adequate supply of food to the Nation, and to promote
<br />economic vitality of the High Plains Region, the Secretary of Commerce...is authorized
<br />and directed to study the depletion of the natural resources of those regions...presently
<br />utilizing the declining water resources of the Ogallala aquifer, and to develop plans,
<br />to increase water supplies in the area and report thereon to Congress... II
<br />The national impact this region has is quite clear-one percent of the population
<br />living on six percent of the land is producing over 15 percent of the total value of
<br />wheat, corn, sorghum, and cotton for the Nation. The production of the Region depends
<br />upon, its water and energy resources, both of which are declining.
<br />It appears that there are four major groups of factors that influence and determine
<br />agricultural production in the High Plains Region. (1) water resources; (2) market
<br />forces, (3) production technology, and (4) institutions. In most instances, it is possible
<br />to manage some of the water resources, transport some quantities to locations other
<br />than where they are found, or change the quantities available per unit time; e.g.,
<br />increase water supplies through importation.
<br />The second category-market forces-determine the prices for the products which
<br />are produced by the agricultural and other sectors of the High Plains. The number,
<br />incomes, and tastes and preferences of consumers, available substitutes, and locations
<br />of substitutes are important price determining factors.
<br />,. Production technology, including production enterprise management determines
<br />the functional relationship between the use of resources and the quantity and quality
<br />. of products and services produced. The supply. of capital, the price of inputs and the
<br />production recipe all affect the results of the . production activity.
<br />. Institutional forcess include the laws of the respective states which govern property
<br />rights, set taxes, define the terms of trade, and regulate resource' use and business
<br />enterprise. Institutional forces also include the pUblic agencies which participate in
<br />government and those which supply publicly funded services, research, and education.
<br />In this discussion, it is emphasized that agricultural production, energy prOduction,
<br />and production of the other sectors are a function of the supply of resources, prices
<br />of inputs and outputs, management, financing, production technology, climate and other
<br />factors. The recommendations presented herein have been selected because it appears
<br />that their implementation would beneficially affect agricultural prOduction, lower
<br />production costs, and lower water resource requirements for production. Proposed
<br />action to modify a condition is evaluated to determine its potential impact upon
<br />production. This includes, a discussion as to changes in the supply of a resource,
<br />changes in the demand for a resource, and the identification of private, local, state,
<br />or federal organizations upon which responsibility for implementation of the recommen-
<br />dation would rest.
<br />Foul' basic methods are available for achieving the goals set forth in the High
<br />Plains study legislation: (1) improving irrigation efficiency, (2) restricting ground water
<br />use, (3) increasing the Region's water supply, and (4) expanding opportunities for
<br />economic development in the Region. A coordinated effort among individual farmers,
<br />and local, state, and national organizations and government agencies will be required
<br />to accomplish the goals of solving some of the Region's important water resource and
<br />economic development problems. For the near term, it appears that a major commitment
<br />to water conservation should be made, since many desirable results of water conservation
<br />can be realized relatively quickly and at relatively low cost. Both public and private
<br />activities are needed.
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