Analysis to Assess Potential Economic Benefits of WTM by SI H. W. Belcher Michigan State University

Study Objective Develop a means of easily examining the economic feasibility of subirrigation.

Why Farmers were interested in converting drainage systems to subirrigation. Biggest question - would it make them money?

Constraints easy to use flexible allow site specific application

Annual Cost of System Capital Cost Operation: Labor, Power Maintenance

Annual Income Increase = value of yield increase

SI-ECON

Example

Example (continued)

What If - Market Price

What If - Capital Cost

Conclusions SI often provides increase yield for field corn / soybean rotations grown in Michigan. Increased yield may not result in increased profit. SI-ECON provides a means of easily evaluating the economic feasibility of SI on a site by site basis.