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Economics of Stony Land Reclamation for Crop Production in South-Western Quebec

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2017

Randolph Seecharan
Affiliation:
Regional Development Branch, Agriculture Canada
Kisan Gunjal
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, McGill University
Gerard Millette
Affiliation:
Department of Renewable Resources, McGill University
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Abstract

Linear programming model is used to investigate the economic feasibility of utilizing stony lands for crop production in South-Western Quebec where stoniness is the major constraint. Results for the representative farms indicate that income variations are due to economies of size, differences in crop yields (experimental or farm level) and type of reclamation method used. The market values for stony lands (determined by regression technique) are higher compared with the productive values. Analysis also indicates that crop production is feasible within the parameters defined and that it is more economical to develop unutilized stony land rather than purchase prime agricultural land at current market prices. Parametric programming procedures indicate that the solutions are more sensitive to crop yields and prices than reclamation costs.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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Footnotes

The authors gratefully acknowledge the comments of two anonymous reviewers.

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