An Economic Analysis of Alfalfa Seed Production Costs and Returns in Utah, 1952

• Main Author: Goodwin, Jack B.
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 1955
• Subjects: alfalfa seed; production; economic analysis; utah; 1952; Economics; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/1904; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2903&context=etd

Alfalfa is the most important forage crop in the United States and a crop vital to the livestock industry. It is the ideal to which other hay crops are compared. In terms of total digestable nutrients and as an economical source of these nutrients, it is without equal. Other reagures in which alfalfa excels over other hay crops as a forage are: high yield, palatability, high protein and calcium content, and value as a source of vitamins A and D. Inaddition it has great falue in soil conservation practices for controlling erosion losses and nitrogen depletion. It also fits well in crop rotation plans. In Utah alfalfa is grown on more acres than any other crop except wheat. The objectives of this study are to: (1) determine the cost of producing alfalfa seed in the major producing areas of Utah for 1952; (2) determine the physical inputs necessary in alfalfa seed production; (3) determine the relative efficiencies of the various cultural methods; and (4) attempt to measure relative advantages or disadvantages of producing certified seed as compared to non-certified seed. There is a dearth of information on the economic aspects of alfalfa seed production in Utah and growers have requested the utah Experiment Stateion to compile cost and marketing information on the commodity. The opinion has been expressed that information of this type will aid the growers with their economic problems concerning alfalfa seed.