Volume V: Economic assessment of the Technology Evaluation and Development (TED) Program

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

Authors

Deloitte and Touche Management Consultants

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Agriculture Canada

Abstract

This report contains the technical background data and economic analysis of selected projects conducted under the Technology Evaluation and Development (TED) sub-program of the Soil and Water Environmental Enhancement Program(SWEEP). The TED subprogram is comprised of a wide variety of projects with the intent of developing and testing alternative conservation technologies. The majority of the TED projects were technical experiments or demonstrations for which little or no relevant economic data was collected nor was it appropriate to do so. Of the eight projects for which economic data was collected, data limitations prevented any economic analysis for three of the projects. Data for the remaining five projects permitted varying degrees of economic analysis, primarily in the form of partial budget analysis. As a general observation, the economic data reviewed and analyzed varied greatly in terms of both completeness and accuracy. Moreover, the inherent experimental design imposed limitations on the degree of analysis which could be undertaken in some cases. Where this occurred, it is noted in the individual case studies. The key findings of the various projects analyzed in this study are: 1. Yield variability within fields results in a varying proportion of the field which does not cover production costs. This proportion is dependent on crop price. 2. An experimental dry fertilizer placement machine compares favourably to conventional technology given similar capital and operating costs. 3. Liquid manure would be an economically valid substitute for ammonium nitrate if the cost of treatment was comparable. 4. A banded pre-emergent herbicide treatment in conjunction with one or two cultivations is the most economical weed control system for corn. This report elaborates on the consequences of these and other findings.

Description

Soil and Water Environmental Enhancement Program (SWEEP)

Keywords

soil conservation technology, farm level economics, farm field variability, dry fertilizer placement machine, manure management, conservation farming, aeration tillage system, band spray application, inter-row cultivation

Citation

Collections