Natural Resource Capital Formation in American Agriculture: Irrigation, Drainage, and Conservation, 1855-1980

George A. Pavelis

No 277800, Staff Reports from United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

Abstract: In 1980 irrigation, drainage, and conservation assets serving U.S. agriculture amounted to $44.3 billion (1977 dollars). These assets, called natural resource capital (NRC), represented about 25 percent of all depreciable nonland business capital in agriculture. Producers' durable equipment other than specialized irrigation equipment accounted for 43 percent of NRC. Nonresidential farm service structures made up the remaining 32 percent of all depreciable business capital. Farm homes, not an element of farm business capital, were worth $38.5 billion, or 13 percent less than the value of NRC on and off farms. In 1980 the onfarm and off farm values of NRC facilities and associated equipment were almost equal, at $22.1 and $22.3 billion, respectively. The onfarm component represented about 14 percent of all depreciable (nonland) business capital on farms.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Environmental Economics and Policy; Resource/Energy Economics and Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 135
Date: 1985-09
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uerssr:277800

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.277800

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