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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />00:.50 <br /> <br />Impediments to Expanding the Cropland Base <br /> <br />Only small acreages of potential cropland are likely to be converted <br />to cropland in the near future unless there is a major improvement in <br />cost-price rel ationshi ps. Farmer eval uation is a continuing process and, <br />when the cost-price outlook is favorable, some acreage is brought into pro- <br />duction. However, for most of this land, strong physical, economic and <br />institutional factors have kept it out of cropland use. <br /> <br />Although the 1977 NRI collected data on type of problems inhibiting <br />conversion of high and medium potential land, these data have not as yet <br />been tabulated. Table II-15 shows the major problems found on high poten- <br />tial land in the 1975 pes. Much of this land requires some type of devel- <br />opment before it can be converted to cropl and, Wet soil s may need <br />small-scal e drainage works such as till ing or surface drains and some may <br />require major works to improve outflow of water from a large area, Diking <br />and pumping would be necessary in some low-lying areas. Some development <br />may be relatively inexpensive and easy to accompl ish but some might require <br />large investments, Some development, while economically feasible, may <br />require time for planning, engineering studies and design, and financing by <br />a public agency. Some potentially cropable land involves areas where large <br />scale drainage or irrigation projects are required. This means planning, <br />evaluation, and often legislative action for public financing, all of which <br /> <br />II-51 <br />