ECONOMIC VALUE OF IRRIGATION WATER IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The paper addresses several issues pertinent to the economics of western irrigated agriculture. It begins by considering the value of water for the major irrigated regions of the 17 contiguous western states. The sensitivity of these values to changes in farm product prices and pumping costs is discussed. Several myths for assigning agricultural water a social value in excess of farmer's ability-to-pay are presented and dispelled. The paper concludes with some thoughts on the future viability of irrigated agriculture in the West. Refs.

author list (cited authors)

  • Beattie, B. R., Frank, M. D., & Lacewell, R. D.

complete list of authors

  • Beattie, BR||Frank, MD||Lacewell, RD

publication date

  • January 1978