This study is based on surveys undertaken during wheat harvest in the rainfed (barani) areas of Rawalpindi district of Pakistan's Punjab from 1983 to 1986. Wheat yields were estimated by crop cut and related to farmers' management practices in the same plots. Differences in yields and practices were analysed in terms of farm size, cropping pattern, land type and socioeconomic factors. Visual observations of field problems were also taken and related to yield. The area surveyed has an average annual rainfall between 500-750 mm. One third of this rain falls in the wheat season. The four years of study had variable rainfall with 1983 and 1986 above and 1984 and 1985 below average. Soils in the study area are composed of loess deposits and sedentary materials and range in texture from sandy loam to silty clay loam. Soil available moisture varies from 50 to 200 mm to a depth of 1.5 metres.