Evaluating Precipitation Modification under Drought Conditions for Utah Agriculture

Abstract

The impacts of the 1934 and 1977 droughts in the seven Climatological regions of Utah were examined using a linear programming model that simulated crop and livestock production in Utah for 1979. Crop and range production equations wee developed to predict changes in production of feed and food crops during the drought before and after cloud seeding was implemented. The simulations indicated that the costs of both droughts fell largely on the livestock industry statewide and on the crop industry in northwestern and southeastern Utah. Cloud seeding was most beneficial in these latter two regions.