ABSTRACT
Cotton growers are showing renewed interest in Ultra Narrow Row Cotton (UNR) because of the potential for higher yields and lower machinery costs. Most studies have compared the costs of UNR cotton and conventional cotton by developing enterprise budgets. The objective of this study was to compare whole farm returns of Ultra Narrow Row cotton to alternative crops of soybeans, and wheat/soybean double crops, with various price and yield variations. North Carolina crop budgets were used in FINPACK, a whole farm financial planner, to determine farm level effects. With increased yields and a three-cent discount, UNR had a higher net farm income than soybeans or wheat/soybean double crop. With a six-cent price discount, UNR was more profitable than soybeans. Some studies have suggested UNR have the most potential on marginal cropland. Crop yields were reduced ten and twenty percent to simulate marginal land crop yields. With reduced yields, UNR was the most profitable.
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