19 



that from a meadow harvested on the usual dates. 



The average anticipated changes in the production and quality of hay 

 associated with three or four management practices are given in table 6. 

 The highest production per acre and the highest percentage of crude protein 

 is obtained when 600 pounds of nitrogen are used with a two-cut system of 

 harvesting. These data apply to meadows that have relatively good soils, are 

 irrigated under a good intermittent system, and are located in an area that 

 has an average annual growing season of 50 to 55 days. Later economic ana- 

 lysis of cost is based on the data shown in table 6. 



COST OF PRODUCING HAY 



Before any analysis can be made of the economic feasibility of these 

 management practices, the relationship between the cost of hay harvesting 

 and production per acre needs to be found. 



The 1954 Census of Agriculture gives a basis for describing a ranch 

 typical of those in the area. The land components of the typical ranch for 

 the area, which is designated as the Upland Grazing Area, II C-3, are as 

 follows: 7/ 



Land Use Acres 



Cropland: 



Hay 200 



Grain . 10 



Irrigated pasture __ 75 



Nonirrigated pasture . . 20 



Not harvested or pasture , 10 



Total 315 



Noncropland pasture 35 



Other: 



Rangeland 1, 670 



Waste _-. 40 



Total 1, 710 



Total land area . 2, 060 



7/ U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1954 Census of Agriculture, vol. 1, Part 29. 



