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<br />C1') <br />(.,'\J <br />C:'4 <br />....., <br />:J <br />r'..') <br /> <br />increase in production costs including such items as machinery, labor, <br /> <br />fertilizer and chemicals. The installation cost of center pivot system <br /> <br />appears to be an exception and has not risen in cost as with most <br /> <br />farm inputs. Pumping power costs have risen substantially due to <br /> <br />rising power rates and deeper pumping lift resulting from aquifer <br /> <br />drawdown . <br /> <br />1978 Season <br /> <br />It is estimated that about sixty percent of the corners were left <br /> <br />idle during the 1978 growing season. This, however, also poses problems. <br /> <br />The open comers enhance noxious weeds and do not provide cover for <br /> <br />wildlife habitat. Some operators disk the comers to help control noxious <br /> <br />weed growth. This practice, however, increases the wind erosion problem <br /> <br />by starting in the comers and spreading to. the center pivot areas. <br /> <br />One solution proposed. is the establishlllent of a permanent cover in <br /> <br />the corners which would control wind erosion and noxious weed problelllS <br /> <br />. and could provide habitat cover. This also has problems because of a <br /> <br />need for water to establish and maintain the cover. The costs are <br /> <br />high and ACP payments cover only a portion of the seeding cost (no <br /> <br />water cost). SOIlle of the better adapted permanent grasses are too <br /> <br />sparse in growth and short to provide good wildlife habitat. <br /> <br />A number of grass species which would provide a drought resistant <br /> <br />cover and good wildlife habitat include cres1:ed wheat grass, tall <br /> <br />wheat grass, Russian wild rye, pubescent wheatgrass in a mix with "Ladak" <br /> <br />alfalfa, sanform and yellow sweet clover. The initial first year cost <br /> <br />of seedbed preparation and seeding would be about $40.00 per acre. <br /> <br />- 10 - <br />