Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Economically optimal enterprise mix for Iowa farms

Project ID: 2004-E01

Abstract

FARMOR, a computer simulation program developed by this project, will allow producers to make calculations about the best mix of enterprises for their unique farm operation.

Key Question: Given the limited amount of resources of a certain farm, what crops and livestock should be raised to maximize profit and how much profit fluctuation will result from production and market risks?

Findings: These questions are addressed by a computer simulation called FARMOR that will determine a combination of farm enterprises that will enable prediction of maximum profits and then will outline year-to-year profit variations that may occur.

Lead investigator: Shane Ellis, ISU Iowa Beef Center

Year of grant completion: 2006

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Ecology Initiative.

Topics: Farming systems, Models and assessment tools