of

However, where a single crop is common over a wide range irrigated situations, yields obtainable on this crop may give a guide to the appropriate size of farm in each situation. For example, studies in the intermountain region indicate that the yield of alfalfa is a good index to the productivity of the irrigated area generally. In areas suitable for alfalfa, small grains, and rotation pasture, the yield of alfalfa is a reasonably good guide of income expectations. Of course, markets and types of farms are important also. A grade A dairy will yield a net income as large or larger than beef cattle or farm flocks of sheep on about 80 percent as much irrigated land. Thus, with a yield of 4.2 to 4.4 tons of alfalfa per acre, a reasonably efficient farm would contain from 80 to 100 acres of irrigated cropland. depending on the type of farm. These farms in most instances would allow about $3,100 return to family management and labor at the USDA projected prices and leave some residual for repayment of water costs. At 3.8 to 4.0 tons of alfalfa per acre, farm size increases to a range of 100 to 120 acres of cropland to yield approximately the same net income. At a yield level of 2.8 to 3.0 tons of alfalfa, approximately 120 to 160 acres would be required. With alfalfa yields at 2.1 to 2.5 tons per acre, a cropland acreage of 200 to 220 acres would be required for an efficient operation.

Any consideration of size of farm on reclamation projects must recognize that efficient size of farm operations can be achieved by means other than through ownership of the land operated. Limitations may be placed on landownership without necessarily jeopardizing the organization of efficient farm units. While limitations on acreage owned may achieve an acceptable distribution of increases in land values resulting from reclamation, the mechanism of land renting may achieve desirable flexibility in size of farm operating units. Some flexibility in size of farm operating units is necessary over time and between individual farms at the same time.

Establishment of limitations on acreage of irrigable land owned consistent with a principle of optimum economic efficiency and comparability of income for farmers would require that studies be made for each reclamation project and for each major soil type within projects. Investigators making such studies would need to visualize the type of farming likely to be most successful under each situation. Furthermore, they must recognize that the goal of efficiency in the use of resources and that of comparability of income for farm families does not mean necessarily that all farms must be the same size even where similar conditions prevail. High efficiency may be obtained in many instances on small farms where custom work by specialized machines is used or where cooperative ownership of certain equipment leads to reasonable costs. Comparability of income for the family on a small farm often is achieved by combining farming with other occupations.

Not enough economic studies have been made in irrigated areas to be able to establish the acreage required for efficient farming under all climatic, soil, and type-of-farming situations. Such studies could be made, however, as required to implement project planning. Precedent for them may be found in the Columbia Basin project planning. In the case of the Columbia Basin, the objective was to establish a

size of farm that would provide a maximum number of settlement opportunities consistent with a minimum acceptable level of living for the farm family. The suggestion here is to establish a principle that would lead to development of a farm that would provide optimum operating efficiency and would provide a farm income expectation reasonably comparable to other income opportunities that might be available to farmers on reclamation projects.

Farm size, income, and water costs from budgets of typical farm situations on selected irrigation projects of the West, reported for selected year

Farm size, income, and water costs from budgets of typical farm situations on selected irrigation projects of the West, reported for selected years—

Continued

costs are
paid

Cattle, hog, sugar beet.

Cattle, hog, potatoes.

480

Construction...-----

232

31, 786

16, 147

1,856

17, 003

Sheep, hog

480

223

19,499

9, 122

1,824

10, 946

Total.