Laserfiche WebLink
<br />'..::t' <br />('J <br />('-1 The major cost would be the first years labor and power cost for ir- <br /> <br />..oof <br />:) rigation with pUlllp water to insure establishment. Limited irrigation, <br />c,;) <br />preferably with river water, would have to be done each year to keep <br /> <br />the cover well established. The total aver.age annual. cost to establish <br /> <br />and maintain a good wildlife and dust control cover has been estimated <br />at $51. 00 per acre. 2./ <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVES FOR CENTER PIVOT <br />USE AND CORNER MANAGEMENT <br /> <br />The profitability of utilizing center pivot irrigation depends to. <br /> <br />a large extent on the crops grown. The two major c.rops irrigated in <br /> <br />the Sail Luis Valley are malt barley and potatoes. As will be noted <br /> <br />from the budgets, potatoes are far more profitable than barley, however; <br /> <br />because of limitations in demand and disease problems, it has not been <br /> <br />feasible to place most of the irrigated land into potatoes or to farm <br /> <br />potatoes continuOusly. The current mix of crops on center pivot systeIDS <br /> <br />includes about 26% potatoes, 7% feed barley, and 67% malt barley. <br /> <br />The alternatives for corner management include: <br /> <br />1. Crop the corners using conventional surface irrigation to irrigate <br /> <br />the come rs. <br /> <br />2. Idle the corners with a possible disking to control noxious weeds, <br /> <br />but this alternative creates wind erosion problems and fails to provide <br /> <br />wildlife habitat, or allow for use of river water. <br /> <br />~l <br /> <br />The labor cost during succeeding years in many cases could be provided <br />by existing help without the need to hire an extra man.. This would de- <br />fray cost somewhat. If three or more quarters were operated, it would <br />be.necessary to hire summer help or perhaps to level for irrigation <br />rather than using borders or dikes. <br /> <br />-11- <br />