AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF POWERING
 CITRUS IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN FLORIDA WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAYS

 Timothy G..Taylor, J. Walter Milon and Clyde Kiker


 INTRODUCTION


 The use of supplemental irrigation has become an increasingly common
practice in the production of citrus in Florida. With relatively
inexpensive energy prices prior to the 1970s, and more intensive culti-
vation practices, irrigation has been a profitable operation for most
citrus producers. However, the rise in energy prices since 1970 has
threatened to reduce the economic benefits to citrus producers resulting
from irrigation. Anaman [1981,75] has estimated that the economic bene-
fits from irrigation could be completely dissipated if the price of
energy relative to citrus prices increases threefold from current [1980]
levels.
 The spectre of further increases in energy prices coupled with
shortages in the supplies of some fossil fuels has provided the impetus
to investigate the potential for utilizing fossil fuels more efficiently
and using alternative energy sources in agricultural production. One
source which appears to have considerable promise as a power supply for
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irrigation is solar energy. The use of photovoltaic (PV) arrays to
produce electricity for powering irrigation pump motors is currently
technologically feasible [Matlin and Katzman, 1978]. The mere fact that
photovoltaic arrays can be used to power irrigation systems, however, is
not sufficient to conclude that such systems provide a viable alternative
to current conventional power sources. Economic feasibility must also
be established.


 ISee Appendix A for a description of PV systems and their use
in irrigation.


 TIMOTHY G. TAYLOR and J. WALTER MILON are assistant professor of
food and resource economics. CLYDE KIKER is associate professor of
food and resource economics.