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<br />The need for changes in land use are summarized for
<br />specific or primary purposes, and for ancillary uses,
<br />Land devoted to ancillary use for one purpose, can also
<br />readily serve in complementary fashion for other
<br />purposes, such as fish and wildlife and recreation.
<br />Agricultural croplands can frequently be used in a dual
<br />role to meet recreation and wildlife needs.
<br />
<br />AGRICUL TURE
<br />
<br />Agriculture is the largest industry in the Missouri
<br />Basin, The basin's production is an important part of the
<br />Nation's agricultural production, About 3 I 2 million
<br />acres of the basin's land is used for some kind of
<br />agriculture, including forestry. Cropland is estimated at
<br />104 million acres, of which 6.9 million acres are
<br />irrigated. An additional 189 million acres are used for
<br />grazing, of which about 0.5 million acres are fully or
<br />partially irrigated.
<br />With 25 percent of the Nation's cropland, the
<br />Missouri Basin regularly produces a third or more of the
<br />Nation's wheat, 40 percent of the rye, 30 percent of the
<br />sugar beets, 50 percent of the flaxseed, and ~5 percent
<br />of the Nation's cattle, hogs, and sheep, It also produces
<br />between 20 and 30 percent of the feed grains such as
<br />corn, barley, and sorghums. The current normal crop
<br />production capability exceeds demand placed on the
<br />basin by about 7 percent.
<br />The number of farms has decreased from 528,000 in
<br />1949 to 380,000 in 1964, and this trend is expected to
<br />continue, but at a lesser rate. The decline in the number
<br />of farms results in an increasing size of farm and a
<br />decreasing rural population; however, gross farm income
<br />is projected to increase from $5.3 billion in 1960 tq over
<br />$ 14 billion in 2020.
<br />Food and fiber requirements for the basin are
<br />projecteu to exceed current normal production levels
<br />approximately 2.2 times by 2020. Commodity require-
<br />ments by time periods are indicated below and are
<br />summarized in chapter 2.
<br />
<br />AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION INTERMS OFCROP
<br />AND FORAGE PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR
<br />THE MISSOURI RIVER BASIN
<br />
<br />Year
<br />
<br />Current Normal
<br />1980
<br />2000
<br />'"){\'"){\
<br />~u""v
<br />
<br />Production Index
<br />
<br />100
<br />134
<br />164
<br />207
<br />
<br />The projected capability of the agricultural resources,
<br />considering only technological)mprovements, land con-
<br />servation, and improved livestock feeding efficiencies, is
<br />estimated to be able to meet the projected food and
<br />fiber requirement of the basin through the year 2000.
<br />
<br />2
<br />
<br />Increased production of approximately 5 to 10 percent
<br />by means other than those specified will be required by
<br />2020 to meet the basin's production requirements, This
<br />additional production will be provided by some combi-
<br />nation of alternative means. Irrigation of 7.6 million
<br />acres of cropland now dry farmed is the only single
<br />method that could meet all the increased needs by 2020,
<br />Conversion of 20 million acres of pasture and rangeland
<br />to cropland could meet about 80 percent of the in-
<br />creased needs; flood protection of agricultural lands
<br />about 15 percent; drainage of croplands less than
<br />10 percent; and rehabilitation of existing irrigation
<br />systems less than 5 percent. A combination of these
<br />methods will undoubtedly be used to satisfy the
<br />increased needs of the basin beyond 2000.
<br />Most of the 7.4 million acres of land now irrigated is
<br />in the western and central or more arid parts of the
<br />basin. However, residents of the more humid parts of the
<br />basin are beginning to recognize the value of diversity
<br />and stability afforded by irrigated agriculture. A fore-
<br />seeable potential exists for additional irrigation develop-
<br />ment on 10,855,000 acres although 64 million acres are
<br />physically suitable for irrigation.
<br />Average annual crop yields from lands can be
<br />increased substantially through irrigation for all parts of
<br />the basin. In addition, the variation of annual yields
<br />from the normal average, with irrigation, would be
<br />reduced two to two-and-one-half times. Irrigation
<br />permits a diversity of crops to be grown and to plan
<br />farming operations well in advance, thereby reducing
<br />hazards associated with the one- or two-crop economy
<br />and achieving greater economic and social stability.
<br />The desire of the basin's farmers to attain local and
<br />regional stability plus the basic profit motive can be
<br />expected to encourage large-scale irrigation develop-
<br />ments and to improve the existing irrigation systems
<br />long before a need for increased agricultural production
<br />is reached at a national level. Increased agricultural
<br />production may be attainable through improvements to
<br />existing irrigation systems or through combinations of
<br />systems as indicated by the following tabulation:
<br />
<br />POTENTIAL FOR EXISTING IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
<br />
<br />Ditch Consolidation
<br />Ditch Lining
<br />Drainage Ditches (service area)
<br />Storage Requirements
<br />Total Ne\v Water i\vailable
<br />
<br />3,369 miles
<br />5,392 miles
<br />717,000 acres
<br />1,180,000 acre-feet
<br />
<br />1,415,000 acre-feet
<br />
<br />Storage Water and Saving in
<br />Transportation Losses
<br />Increased Net Future Water
<br />Depletion
<br />Equivalent Irrigated Area
<br />
<br />269,000 acre-feet
<br />
<br />196,000 acre-feet
<br />(499,000 acres for
<br />production only)
<br />
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