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
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Date
1968
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Massey University
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Abstract
The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of horticultural management plans formulated by linear and nonlinear programming. Such an evaluation will include the feasibility of the plan itself, the nature of additional information (such as the imputed value of resources) obtained from the programmed solution (which is not easily provided by the simpler budgeting methods), and the extent to which profits may be increased if the programmed solution was put into practice. Rather than comparing the programmed profits with those the horticulturalist received in the previous season, they should be compared with the expected profit, using the prices, yields and costs assumed in the programme, for the management plan the horticulturalist considered best before being presented with the programmed solution. This is considered desirable due to the wide fluctuations in horticultural incomes that may occur from one year to the next - it is possible that a linear programme may show a lower level of profit than that obtained the previous season, simply due to high prices the previous year. It will be possible, then, to see just how near the horticulturalist's management plan is to the optimum and dependent on this, how useful mathematical programming may be in horticultural management advisory work.
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New Zealand, Horticulture, Economic aspects