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Anticipated Cropping Systems Climatic conditions, topography, and distance to central markets are limiting factors to the kinds of crops that can be commercially produced in the project area. Present irrigated land use consists of 53 percent of the cropland in alfalfa, clover and pasture, 30 percent in small grains, 4 percent in com for silage and 13 percent, idle and fallow. Development of the project is not expected to affect the kinds of crops produced. No in- tensive cash crops are expected to be grown on the Florida project on a commercial scale. Development of the project is expected to increase acreage of forage crops and reduce acreage of grain crops (table 13). A 7-year crop rotation, including 5 years of alfalfa or rotation pasture, and 2 years of grain and com for silage, is assumed on lands in evaluation areas A, B, and D. Evaluation area C is assumed to be limited to a rotation of 5 years of alfalfa or rotation pasture and 2 years of grain. Small grain is grown alone the first year for weed control purposes and is used as a nurse crop in seedings of alfalfa or rotation pasture the second year. Direct Agricultural Benefits A primary objective of the economic analysis is to estimate direct agri- cultural benefits. These benefits are defined as the value of crop and pasture production expected with project development in excess of produc- tion anticipated without the project, less the value of additional farm inputs or associated costs required. The concepts and assumptions on the specific composition and value of nonproJect resources or associated costs, as used in this report, are outlined below. A basic assumption is that the national economy will operate at essentially full employment for the period of analysis. Based on this general assump- tion, alternative employment opportunities would be expected in the national economy for resources used in the development and operation of irrigated farms, including the labor and management skills of farm operators. Also, the projected levels of farm prices received and paid are higher than they would be with a significant amount of unemployment. Estimates of direct agricultural benefits are based upon crop-production 1:l1dgets that account for the quanti ty and value of crop and pasture production expected after full development of project farms, and the cost that will be incurred on the project lands in achieving the level of production expected. Separate estimates have been made for each evaluation area and a total compu- tation for the project area as a whole. The cropping patterns assumed in the benefit analysis are the same as used in the analysis of water requirements and prospective farm incomes. Farms with an adequate vater supply viII require considerably more labor, including operator and family labor, than farms with partial water supplies. In the with project budgets, the additional operator and family labor re- quired is considered as an expense in deriving benefits. - 26 -