Applications of mathematical programming on four New Zealand horticultural holdings : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Horticultural Science in Massey University

Abstract

Although fifteen years have passed since the publication of Dorfman's article 1 Dorfman, Robert, "Mathematical or 'Linear' Programming, a Non-Mathematical Exposition," American Economic Review, vol.43,p.797, 1953. describing linear programming in terms readily understood by the most non-mathematical agricultural economist, and fourteen years have lapsed since Heady published an article 2 Heady, Earl o., "Simplified Presentation and Logical Aspects of Linear Programming Technique," Journal of Farm Economics, vol.36, p. 1035, 1954. demonstrating the obvious potential of linear programming in solving a large class of farm management problems, 'real life' applications of programming, particularly those concerned with horticultural management are surprisingly few. 3 For interesting applications of programming to horticultural or part-horticultural holdings, see: Simpson, I.G., Hales, A.W., and Fletcher, A., "Linear Programming and Uncertain Prices in Horticulture," Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol.15, P.617, 1963; Camm, B.M., "Risk in Vegetable Production on a Fen Farm," The Farm economist, vol.10, p.89, 1962-65; Wesney, D. , "A study or the Financial Returns to Process Pea Growers in Hawkes Bay," unpublished M.Agr .Sc. thesis, Massey University Library, 1964; and Tyler, G.J., "An Application of Linear Programming," Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol.13, p.473, 1960. Linear programming has been accepted in the U.S.A. as an extremely useful and versatile tool for both farm management research and advisory work but has not as yet been widely accepted in the United Kingdom, where simpler techniques such as Programme Planning 4 Clarke, G.B. and Simpson, I.G., "A Theoretical Approach to the Profit Maximisation Problems in Farm Management," Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol. 13, p.25o, 1959. For a comparison of the merits of Programme Planning and Linear Programming see Candler, Wilfred and Warren Musgrave, "A Practical Approach to the Profit Maximisation Problems in Farm Management," Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol.14, p.2O8, 1960.are advocated. Official advisory services in New Zealand tend to be based on techniques used in the United Kingdom and hence linear programming has not been given adequate opportunity to demonstrate its usefulness.