58 



DIVISION OP WATER RESOURCES 



bered, are based on productive labor necessary in efficient management, 

 and on larger farm units than are the basis of the Agricultural Exten- 

 sion Sorvieo costs. They are intended to be applicable only under the 

 particular conditions on which they are based and are in no sense set 

 up as an average. 



Because of the belief that the best results in cotton in the future will 

 be obtained by combining it on smaller acreages with alfalfa, and as 

 this probably will result in increasing botli costs and yields, a total cost 

 of $65 an acre for producing and harvesting this crop, on a one-bale 

 yield basis, has been arbitrarily assumed. This would involve a slightly 

 higher efficiency than is reflected in the present Agricultural Extension 

 and large-grower records, but a higher cost than that indicated by 

 the figures of the Farm Management Section and the ranch managers' 

 budget estimates. The better growers will have somewhat lower costs, 

 and. as the poorer lands are eliminated, an average of $65 per acre 

 should be a safe figure for use in planning water development. 



Income from Cotton and Amount Available for Water Charges. 



Yield. — The assumption of an average yield of one bale to the acre 

 in the upper San Joaquin Valley, with the better growers expecting 

 1.5 bales, has already been referred to. Some growers will not plant 

 land to cotton that will not yield three-quarters of a bale per acre. 

 Others place the lower profitable limit at one bale. The lint yield for 

 eighteen Agricultural Extension Service records available ranged from 

 0.72 to 2.52 bales to the acre, Avitli a numerical average of 1.35 bales. 

 The unweighted average for the three large-grower records, for which 

 actual costs, rather than estimates, arc available, was 1.20 bales to the 

 acre. 



As a basis for estimating permissible irrigation water charges it is 

 concluded that a yield of one bale to the acre is justified, knowing that in 

 times of good prices some land producing less than that will be planted. 



Price. — Table 35 gives the December 1 farm price of cotton in Cali- 

 fornia from 1910 to 1928. The range is from 7 to 43 cents and the 

 numerical average is 20.5 cents. The October. 1929, to June, 1930, 

 average was 16.25 cents and the June, 1930, price was quoted in the 

 field at 12 cents. 



TABLE 35 

 DECEMBER 1 FARM PRICE FOR COTTON IN CALIFORNIA, 1910-1928 



Authority, California Crop Report, 1928. 



