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<br />l:'- <br />L!) <br />M <br />o <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /><..:) GENERAL TRENDS <br /> <br />_-:.' <br /> <br />Sample size is sti I I inadequate for claiming strict statistical <br />reliability. Therefore, the level of GVSP economic effects indicated <br />by the current data sholl I d be interpreted carefu II y. The magn i tude of <br />on-farm benefits realized vary widely among sites. Overall though the <br />averages or typical impacts are very reasonable. The data on Tables <br />11 and 12 are based on va II ey-wi de averages for the per i od 1985 <br />through 1989. <br /> <br />The major on-farm economic benefits derived from GVSP irrigation <br />improvements stem from labor savings, decreased machinery use, <br />applying less water, and yield increases. Table 11 breaks the average <br />labor savings down into three different categories - irrigation labor, <br />field maintenance labor, and delivery maintenance labor. Irrigation <br />I abor measures the change in I abor hours spent in app I y i ng water to an <br />ave~age field acre each season. <br /> <br />"ield maintenance and delivery maintenance labor depict change In <br />labor hours spent maintaining the field and delivery portions of the <br />irrigation system each season. Most of the improvements upgrade a <br />dirt ditch to either concrete or pipe. Time spent cutting out the <br />ditch, fighting break outs, and ki II ing weeds is el iminated. Water is <br />more eas i I y contro I I ed and chang i ng sets is norma I I y fac i I i tated. <br />Some farmers find themselves with enough time to farm more acreage or <br />to devote to off-farm employment. The total labor benefit from all <br />three categories averages 3.2 hours/acre/season for cropland and 27.2 <br />hours/acre/season for orchards. <br /> <br />Machinery use in maintaining field and delivery portions of the <br />irrigation system are also displayed in Table 11. Field machine time <br />and del ivery machine time show the hours of machine use saved per <br />season by upgrading a typical irrigation system. Machines include <br />many types~f equipment from backhoes to ditchers to spraying <br />equipment. Monetizing the savings to equipment use would depend on <br />the specific machine used to maintain the system. <br /> <br />Past economic monitoring studies and 1989 follow-up interviews <br />indicate that there has been no demonstrated change in the number of <br />Irrigations per season. However, total season water use has <br />decreased. Cropland and orchard water use decreased an average of 1.5 <br />and 3.5 acre feet per acre respectively. These savings can be <br />attributed to essentially eliminating lateral and ditch seepage, <br />better water contro I afforded by the new system, and improved <br />irrigation water management. These water savings occur even though <br />water bi lis may not reflect diminished withdrawals. All overage <br />charges have been el iminated on improved systems. <br /> <br />33 <br />