Cotton Cultivar, Planting, Irrigating, and Harvesting Decisions under Risk

• Main Authors: James A. Larson, Harry P. Mapp Jr.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Western Agricultural Economics Association 1997-07-01
• Series: Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics
• Subjects: cotton; production risk; risk premiums; simulation
• Online Access: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/31012

Producers in southwest Oklahoma lack adequate information about optimal planting decisions for cotton. This study uses a cotton growth simulation model to evaluate alternative cultivar, planting date, irrigation, and harvest choices. Effects of using information about soil moisture at reproduction and revenue loss at harvest in making cultivar and planting data decisions are evaluated. Using soil temperature information to plant at an early date produced high net revenue some years, but reduced mean net revenue and increased risk. Producers maximizing expected net revenue should plant a short-season cultivar in late May and use soil moisture information to schedule irrigation at reproduction.