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, ' " ,Effect of Limited Irrig4llbn on Yield of Sugar Beets Pa ge 9 . Table VI J i ; ~ . I SUGAR BEET IRRIGATION WATER STRESS TEST.DEMONSTRATION PROJECT I ! Summary of Production Cost & Returns for 1980 Compared to Potential for 1981 Est. 1981 Retu rn Est. Return! Break 1980 Over Cost! Prod. Break Acre @ Water 1980 Est. Prod. Even Return! Acre Inch Cost. Even $30.00 Loss Treatment Yield Co.t5 1980 Price{T @ $44.50 Irr19. Water 1981 Price! T Per Ton Per Acre Full !rd. 18.65 Ton $004.33 $32.40 $829.92 $11.67 $665 $35.66 $559.50 $105.50 Mod. Stre"s 16.36 604.33 36.94 728.02 36.25 665 40.64 490.80 174.20 Hvy. StIll:':' 14.l'b {,U4.33 42.42 634.12 3.13 665 46,67 427.50 237.50 Dryland 6.23 492.00 78.97 277.23 541 86.84 186.90 354.10 The data recorded in Table VI does provide some basis for evaluation. The 1980 price for' delivered beets averaged $44.50 in the test's production area. At that market value, all three irrigation regimes would have yielded the farmer a profit for his time and investment. Thedryland beets would result in a substantial loss. The added yield per added acre inch of water was greatest at $36.25 for the water added as the farmer moved from two irrigations (heavy stress) to three irrigations (moderate stress). The value added as the farmers moves from three irrigations to a fully irrigated regime returned a creditable $11.67 per acre inch of added water. All computations point to full irrigation as the most prOfitable for the farmer and the economy of the area. 'I tile 1980 yield data as a basis for evaluating returns under 1981's e~()nolllic conditions provides further information of interest. Cost of production is calculated at 110% of the 1980 costs. The estimated price of delivered beets at $30 per ton reflects the best optimistic price available at this time. All irrigation regimes would pay the estimated $390.50 variable cost of production. The full irrigation practice would result in the least financial loss. 01 SCUSSION In this discussion, irrigation costs were figured at a constant value. The writer recognizes ,the costs would vary for different systems and different levels of water delivery costs. Further, the writer also recognizes that conclusive results cannot be drawn from one year's data. For that reason, the project is structured for five years. The 1981 test has been complicated by a destructive h~il. The test does, hO~E,ver, illustrate the need for i rrigat ion water in the product ion of sugar beets under Colorado's high plains environment. It also illustrates the yield and doll!a.r value added as the level of irrigation .water is increased.