Alfalfa Crop-Water Production Functions: Economic Implications for Nevada

摘要

Crop-water production functions are estimated for alfalfa grown in two areas of Nevada with two different irrigation efficiency levels. Farmers with high cost water can conserve substantial amounts of water and increase profits by applying profit rather than yield maximizing water quantities. Application efficiencies have a greater impact on profits at high water costs, but a greater impact on water use at low water costs. Water supply restrictions of 10 percent or less have a small impact on farm profits. For maximum profits under water supply restrictions of 20 percent or less, farmers should maintain full acreage in production and reduce water applications per acre.