An Economic Analysis of Ranch Organization in Central South Dakota

A fundamental economic problem facing ranchers in central South Dakota concerns the allocation and use of scarce resources in such a way as to attain the most profit. This study was concerned with the optimum organization of a typical ranch on the Williams-Tetonka-Cavour soil association in central South Dakota. The major objectives were: (1) to present alternative ranch plans for maximizing net returns under varied capital levels and efficiency levels; (2) to determine a profit maximizing land use program from among the many pasture improvement programs and pasture management systems for beef production on a typical ranch; (3) to estimate optimum adjustment in ranch organization while undertaking a pasture renovation program