A Risk Programming Analysis of Crop Rotations Including Double-Cropping

This study examines the economic potential of double-cropping on a representative dryland farm. Crop simulation, market simulation, and quadratic programming are used to determine optimal combinations of crop rotations. Simulated data are an alternative to historical data, which may not reflect current conditions. A risk-neutral operator double-crops soybeans on all wheat acres; whereas, more risk-averse operators do not double-crop. Procedures used in this study provide a means of incorporating changes in both crop production potential and market conditions (e.g., new farm bills) into analyses that will generate optimal solutions for farmers with diverse preferences for returns and risk.