A standard weed management system (system I) had a higher return above variable costs than did an intensive weed management system (system II) for two eastern Colorado cropping rotations. For continuous corn (Zea mays L.), the return above variable costs averaged $18.85/ha more under system I than under system II. For a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)-corn-sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) rotation, the return above variable costs averaged $20.48/ha more under System I than under System II. Based on alternative input (herbicide) and product prices, higher herbicide costs favored the standard weed management system, whereas higher crop prices favored the weed management system with the higher yields adjusted for quality. The probability that returns above variable costs differed between the two weed management systems depended upon the level of product prices and herbicide costs.

In field experiments, wheat row spacing, seeding rate, and herbicide treatment affected cheat seed content of harvested wheat, wheat yield, and net returns. No individual practice or combination of practices consistently increased net returns from cheat-infested wheat. Net returns frequently were increased and never decreased by applying metribuzin at 420 g ha−1 or chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron at 21.9 + 4.4 g ha−1 or by increasing the seeding rate compared to baseline inputs. The data indicate that herbicide rates should not be reduced when row spacing is decreased and/or seeding rates increased.

In field experiments at three locations, wheat row spacing, seeding rate, and herbicide treatment affected Italian ryegrass control, wheat yield, dockage in the grain, and net returns. Diclofop at 560 or 840 g ai/ha controlled Italian ryegrass better than chlorsulfuron at 18 or 26 g ai/ha. Net returns were increased at all locations by diclofop POST at either rate and at two locations by chlorsulfuron PRE at either rate. Although increasing the wheat seeding rate reduced dockage at two of three locations, net returns were maximized by herbicide application alone without increased seeding rates or reduced row spacing.

Tornquist input quantity indices were used to derive total and partial factor productivity measures for U.S. cotton across time, region, and scale. Total factor productivity for U.S. cotton increased .2 percent per year between 1974 and 1982. Partial productivity measures revealed that yield growth was about .6 percent and input use grew about .4 percent per year. Cotton enterprises in Alabama and Mississippi gained and those in the Texas High Plains lost competitive advantage relative to California. In 1982, very large (1750-5900 acres) and large (950-1749 acres) cotton enterprises were 2 percent more productive than medium-size enterprises (570-949 acres).

County agents receive cost of production information primarily from state extension services and then disseminate it to agricultural producers. A survey gathered data on agent usage of this information. A Poisson regression analysis using count data was performed to determine the factors influencing the number of times county agents directly referred to published cost of production (enterprise budget) information in a year. The agent's understanding of budget information use in management decisions, the availability of budgets, and his/her receiving the budgets in multiple forms (e.g., sheets, booklets, or software) had significant positive impacts on the use of budgets by the agent.

After decades of farm specialization, re-integrating crop and livestock farming systems is being reconsidered as a key step toward sustainable agriculture. The relative profitability of Maine farms integrating crops and livestock is compared to non-integrated or conventional farms. Crop and livestock integration in Maine occurs through either diversified on-farm integration or, more commonly, through coupled interactions between specialized crop and livestock producers. Potato and dairy systems coupled for only 2 years (short-term) had greater profitability compared to conventional systems. Profitability increased in the short term in two ways. First, potato farms grew more of their primary cash crop. Secondly, dairy farms expanded cow numbers, increasing profitability assuming increasing returns to scale. Coupled systems integrated for more than 10 years (long-term) had more favorable profitability than short-term couplers since greater manure-nutrient credits were taken for potatoes and silage corn. The advantages of potato–dairy integration were even greater if potato yields increased in the long term, as suggested by long-term rotation plot studies in Maine. Even if coupling is more profitable than non-integrated systems, it requires that farms be in close proximity and for farmers to have adequate working relationships and management skills. Despite these challenges to re-integrating crops and livestock, short- and long-term economic benefits may encourage farmers in appropriate areas to consider coupling with other producers.