Economic and Policy Implications of the 160-Acre Limitation in Federal Reclamation Law

David Seckler and Robert A. Young

American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 1978, vol. 60, issue 4, 575-588

Abstract: Proposals for strict enforcement and, conversely, for relaxation or elimination of acreage limitations in federal irrigation projects have arisen in response to recent court decisions regarding two large California irrigation districts. These proposals are examined against criteria including distributive justice, allocative efficiency, and administrative workability. Empirical evidence is offered which shows that proposed regulations would permit overly generous family incomes in the two areas and brings into question the existence of significant economies associated with larger size farms. An alternative policy instrument, based on control of the water supply, rather than of the land, is proposed so as to reconcile more effectively conflicting policy objectives.

Date: 1978
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:ajagec:v:60:y:1978:i:4:p:575-588.

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