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A LINEAR PROGRAMMING MODEL OF A HIGH‐TEMPERATURE GRASS‐DRYING ENTERPRISE
Author(s) -
Audsley E.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1974.tb01265.x
Subject(s) - overtime , crop , agricultural engineering , linear programming , agricultural science , crop management , environmental science , mathematics , computer science , agronomy , agricultural economics , economics , engineering , mathematical optimization , biology , labour economics
A linear programming model of a high‐temperature grass‐drying enterprise is described. From information about seasonal crop response, area of crop available and management constraints, the model determines the harvesting schedules which give greatest returns, less costs, from the enterprise over the season. This information can be used to examine the effects of long‐term strategic decisions or to evaluate economically data on new crops from field experiments. For example, assuming a fixed cost of λ70,000/year for a high‐temperature grass‐drying installation and what is considered to be reliable input data for 1972, the returns less costs for optimum harvest schedules from different areas or crop varieties are:Corp areaSurplus Grass ac (ha) Lucerne ac (ha) Return, £ Less costs £/ac(£/ha) crop ac (ha)800(324) 0(0) 42,849 536(132.3) 0(0) 1000(405) 0(0) 60,286 603(1489) 205(83) 600(243) 200(81) 46,731 58.4(1442) 0(0) 800(324) 200(81) 65.661 65.7(1621) 109(44)The model can also provide information con cerning tbe limitations imposed by equipment stage of tbe process and management re straints sucb as limitations on overtime and shut downs for holidays or maintenance.