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Natural Resource Capital in U.S. Agriculture: Irrigation, Drainage and Conservation Investments Since 1900

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  • National Resource Economics Division, Economics, Statistics, and Cooperatives Service

Abstract

This paper gives some original time-series estimates (1900-1975) for the constant-dollar gross and net stocks of public and private fixed capital assets associated with agricultural irrigation, drainage and soil conservation activities (IDC) in the United States. In 1975 the IDC facilities and associated equipment had a real net or depreciated value of $27.5 billion (in constant 1972 dollars). They represent about one-fourth of all fixed nonland capital in agriculture. The $27.5 billion net IDC capital value in 1975 was made up of about $12.3 billion for irrigation (45 percent), $9.7 billion for all conservation (35 percent), and $5.5 billion for drainage (20 percent). The aggregate net value of all IDC capital in 1977 was about $28 billion, weighted 46 percent to irrigation, 20 percent to drainage, and 34 percent to conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • National Resource Economics Division, Economics, Statistics, and Cooperatives Service, 1979. "Natural Resource Capital in U.S. Agriculture: Irrigation, Drainage and Conservation Investments Since 1900," Economics Statistics and Cooperative Services (ESCS) Reports 329202, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uerscs:329202
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.329202
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