D. L. Brooke

Economic Information
Report 49

Costs and Returns from
Vegetable Crops in Florida,
Season 1974-75 with
Comparisons

HU A

LIBRARY

DE:C 7 1976

S!F.^ kU,. of Florida

Food and Resource Economics Department
Agricultural Experiment Stations
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
University of Florida, Gainesville 32611

March 1976

ABSTRACT

Costs and returns were obtained and summarized for 14 different
vegetable crops in one or more of eight major producing areas for the
1974-75 season. Per acre costs of production increased by a larger
amount in 1974-75 over the previous season than for any two consecutive
seasons of record since 1945. Part of the increase was due to higher
prices for materials fuels and labor, while some must be attributed to
rapid changes in technology. Nearly all crops studied reported higher
yields per acre which held increases in unit costs to a relatively low-
er level than per acre costs.

Key words: Economics, vegetables, annual costs, simple averages,
purposive sample.

FOREWORD

This is the fifteenth in this series of summaries of costs and

returns from the principal vegetable crops by major producing areas in
Florida. There is a need among growers, commodity groups, credit
agencies, research workers and teachers for current factual information
of this type.
Data in this summary were gathered by personal interview with
growers of the various vegetable crops. Growers' records of actual
production costs were used when available, and estimates taken when re-
cords were not kept. As complete a breakdown of costs as possible was
obtained from each grower. Insofar as possible, growing and harvesting
costs have been separated and labor items excluded from costs of
materials. In a few cases, where crop sales were not available from
growers, they were computed on the basis of average prices received for
the crop as reported by the Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service,
Orlando, Florida.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The writer wishes to express his appreciation to the vegetable
growers for their excellent cooperation and also to the Florida Fruit
and Vegetable Association, the Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting
Service, Orlando, Florida, and to various county agents for much worth-
while assistance.

FOREWORD

This is the fifteenth in this series of summaries of costs and

returns from the principal vegetable crops by major producing areas in
Florida. There is a need among growers, commodity groups, credit
agencies, research workers and teachers for current factual information
of this type.
Data in this summary were gathered by personal interview with
growers of the various vegetable crops. Growers' records of actual
production costs were used when available, and estimates taken when re-
cords were not kept. As complete a breakdown of costs as possible was
obtained from each grower. Insofar as possible, growing and harvesting
costs have been separated and labor items excluded from costs of
materials. In a few cases, where crop sales were not available from
growers, they were computed on the basis of average prices received for
the crop as reported by the Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service,
Orlando, Florida.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The writer wishes to express his appreciation to the vegetable
growers for their excellent cooperation and also to the Florida Fruit
and Vegetable Association, the Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting
Service, Orlando, Florida, and to various county agents for much worth-
while assistance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. . . .. i

MAP OF FLORIDA VEGETABLE PRODUCING AREAS . .. iv

DEFINITIONS. . . . .... .. v

COSTS AND RETURNS DATA ........ . . .... 1

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page
1 SNAP BEANS: Cost and returns in the Palm Beach-
Broward area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 1

2 POLE BEANS: Costs and returns in the Dade County
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 .... .. 2

3 CABBAGE: Costs and returns in the Central Florida
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . 3

S4 CABBAGE: Costs and returns in the Hasitngs area 5-
season average 1970-74 and 1974-75. ..... 4

5 CELERY: Costs and returns in the Central Florida
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75. .. .. 5

6 CELERY: Costs and returns in the Everglades area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75. . . ... 6

V7 SWEET CORN: Costs and returns in the Central Florida
area 5-seaosn average 1970-74 and 1974-75. ,. 7

8 SWEET CORN: Costs and returns in the Everglades area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75. . ... 8

9 SWEET CORN: Costs and returns in the Lower East Coast
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . .,, 9

D. L. BROOKE is a professor in the Food and Resource Economics
Department.

LIST OF TABLES -- Continued

Page

Table

15 PEPPERS: Costs and returns in the Immokalee-Lee
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . .

16 PEPPERS: Costs and returns in the Palm Beach-
Broward area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 .

17 IRISH POTATOES: Costs and returns in the Dade County
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . .

18 IRISH POTATOES: Costs and returns in the Hastings
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . .

19 RADISHES: Costs and returns in the Everglades area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . ...

20 SQUASH: Costs and returns in the Dade County area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . .

21 SQUASH: Costs and returns in the Immokalee-Lee
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . .

22 SQUASH: Costs and returns in the Palm Beach-Broward
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . .

r 23 TOMATOES: Costs and returns in the Dade County area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75. . .

,24 TOMATOES: Costs and returns in the Ft. Pierce area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75. . .

25 STAKED TOMATOES: Costs and returns in the Immokalee-
Lee area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 .

26 STAKED TOMATOES: Costs and returns in the Manatee-
Ruskin area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75.. .

27 WATERMELONS: Costs and Returns in the Immokalee-Lee
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . ,

* 9

10 CUCUMBERS: Costs and returns in the Immokalee-Lee
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . .

11 CUCUMBERS: Costs and returns in the Palm Beach-
Broward area season 1974-75 . ... .. ...

12 EGGPLANT: Costs and returns in the Palm Beach-
Broward area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 .

13 LEAF CROPS: Costs and returns in the Central
Florida area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 .

14 LEAF CROPS: Costs and returns in the Everglades
area 5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75 . .

9 .

* ,

* 5

9 5

27
* *

9 a

. T I .

,19.
I- % -
j,,/ ( I !
(-- L /
l \17
-1 5. :
I\ \ I- I'-
I -,

FL
VEGETABLE
With Principal

0 R I D A
PRODUCING AREAS
Vegetables Produced

1 Dade tomatoes, snap and pole beans, Irish
potatoes, squash, cucumbers, strawberries
2 Palm Beach-Broward snap beans, peppers,
eggplant, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes
3 Immokalee-Lee tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers,
squash, Irish potatoes, watermelons
4 Everglades snap beans, sweet corn, cabbage,
escarole, celery, Irish potatoes, radishes
5 Fort Pierce tomatoes, watermelons
6 Wauchula cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons
7 Sarasota celery, radishes, lettuce, cabbage
8 Manatee-Ruskin tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower,
watermelons
9 Plant City strawberries, peppers, squash,
pole beans, southern peas, okra
10 Sumter cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce,
watermelons
11 Zellwood sweet corn, celery, escarole,
lettuce, snap beans, radishes
12 Sanford-Oviedo cabbage, celery, snap beans,
lettuce, escarole, sweet corn, peppers
13 Oxford-Belleview-Lowoell tomatoes, watermelons
14 McIntosh-Island Grove squash, snap beans, celery,
cabbage, lettuce, watermelons
15 Alachua snap beans, cucumbers, peppers,
Irish potatoes, watermelons
v16 Hastings Irish potatoes,.cabbage
17 Starke-Brooker-Lake Butler snap and lima beans,
cucumbers, peppers, squash, strawberries
v18 .Quincy-Havana pole beans, cucumbers, squash
19 Escambia Irish potatoes

0
o~

DEFINITIONS

Number of growers: Number of individual records or estimates df crop
costs and returns included in each crop summary.

Number of acres: The total acreage planted by growers whose records or
estimates were used. When a part of the planted acreage was lost soon
after planting and replaced by another crop, the reduced acreage was
used.

Average acres per grower: The number of acres of the particular crop
divided by the number of growers.

Average yield per acre: The number of units per planted acre harvested.

Land rent: In the interests of uniformity, land rent was charged for
all acreages and crops at the prevailing rate reported by growers in the
area. This was done to avoid difficulties in the determination of a
normal valuation, interest charge for use of land and capitalization of
land values in a period of fluctuating values and prices. Taxds on farm
real estate are excluded since rent is being charged.

Seed and seedbed includes the cost of seed or plants for planting the
crop. If a seedbed was used, the figures, unless otherwise noted, in-
clude costs of labor and materials for growing plants as well as seed
costs.

Fertilizer represents the actual cost of nutrient materials applied to
produce the crop. Labor or machine costs of application are not
included.

Spray and dust included only the cost of materials unless application
labor is specified, in which case some machine costs may also be present.
If weed control chemicals or soil fumigants were used, their cost also
is included here.

Cultural labor contains the cost of man labor, whether hired or family,
to produce the crop from ground preparation until ready for harvest. It
does not include supervision by the operator, since his compensation is
to a great extent dependent upon returns from the sale of the crop.

Machine hire is the cost of machine work hired, including use of air-
planes when applicable, in producing the crop. This item includes labor
charges for the machine operator and charges for the use of equipment.

Gas, oil and grease include the cost of gas, oil and grease required to
operate tractors, trucks, sprayers, pumps and other machinery in produc-
ing the crop. It may also include electrical power expenses for irriga-
tion when utilized.

Repair and maintenance represent the cost of repairs to equipment used
in producing the crop. It also includes the small tools such as hoes,
rakes and shovels purchased and charged off as a current expenditure.

Depreciation includes the annual charge for depreciation and obsoles-
cence of equipment and labor housing. When actual depreciation charges
could not be obtained from records, they were computed by assuming a
10-year average life-use on all equipment on the basis of replacement
value as indicated by the operator.

Licenses and insurance represent the cost of licenses and insurance
items when chargeable to the farm business. Licenses include those for
trucks and autos used on the farm. Insurance includes labor and crop
insurance and fire or windstorm insurance on buildings and equipment.
It excludes health or accident insurance for the operator or his family.

Interest on production capital was charged at the rate of 9 percent on
all cash costs for the number of months required to grow and market the
crop regardless of whether or not much production capital was actually
borrowed. This percentage was used because it is a currently available
borrowing rate.

Interest on capital invested (other than land) was charged at 9 percent
of the actual or estimated annual depreciated value of the capital in-
vested in machinery and equipment. It was assumed that all equipment
was presently worth one half its replacement value.

Miscellaneous includes such items as wire, stakes, twine, plastic,
office supplies, administrative expense other than value of the opera-
tor's management, legal and audit fees, telephone and telegraph and
incidental expenses.

Harvesting and marketing expense, where possible, has been divided into
two items: (1) picking and (2) grading and packing. Picking, cutting,
or digging expense includes actual cost of harvesting the crop and pre-
paring it for movement to packinghouse or wash house. Washing or
grading and packing expense includes preparation of the product for
shipment either in the field or at an adjacent packinghouse. It in-
cludes machinery and overhead costs in addition to labor. The same is
true for all crops in all areas where grading and packing is done off
the farm in packinghouses.

Containers include the cost of hampers, crates, bags or baskets in
which the product is moved to market.

Hauling is the cost of movement of the product from field to packing-
house or loading point. It is often computed on a contract basis and
includes labor and equipment items. In cases where hauling was pre-
formed by the operator's trucks, the costs have been separated from pro-
duction labor and machine expense items as nearly as possible.

Other includes the cost of precooling the commodity prior to shipment
and, for celery and sweet corn, the contribution to the Marketing
Agreement Program. Inspection fees, when incurred, are included in
packinghouse charges and are not reported as a separate item.

Selling is the packinghouse, market, sales organization or dealer's
charge for performing the sales service for the crop when deducted from
the producer's price. The cost does not include charges for unloading,
grading, packing, etc.

Crop sales are the gross returns to the grower before deduction of
growing, harvesting and marketing costs.

Net return is the return to the producer after deduction of all expenses,
in producing, harvesting and marketing the crop.

Proration of costs between crops: For such items as seed, fertilizer,
spray and dust, airplane application and harvesting and marketing costs,
growers' records or estimates for each crop were used to make the
appropriate charges.

In the case of the cultural labor, however, no breakdown for the differ-
ent crops produced on the individual farm could be obtained from the
grower except in a very few cases when such records had been kept. The
total cultural labor for all crops produced on each farm was, in most
cases, prorated to the various crops on the basis of available data de-
veloped at the Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations with regard to
man hours required in various parts of the state to produce different
crops from land preparation to harvest. Except in a very few cases, a
similar situation also applies to such items as machine hire, tractor
fuel, oil and grease, repairs, depreciation and other production costs
where records had not been kept showing the respective charges to dif-
ferent crops. Prorations were also made to these items on the basis of
available data (D. L. Brooke, Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 660, June 1963).

In many cases individual growers did not incur every cost item. This
applies especially to airplane application, machine hire, grading and
packing, containers, hauling and precooling. Thus, these data are based
only on the overall average for all growers contacted in each area.
Footnotes have been used to set forth the number of growers and average
costs for items not incurred by all growers in the sample.

Per-unit costs and returns were computed by dividing the average yield
per acre in the sample into the various items of cost shown in the in-
dividual tables. They are merely averages of the data recorded and, in
some cases, do not reflect the full cost of performing the service be-
cause all growers may not have incurred every item of cost.

Ranges per acre showing the lowest and the highest of the sampled obser-
vations for yields, costs and returns are included for each crop and
area. This is intended to show growers and other interested parties
the extremes that may be encounted in vegetable production.

vii

Table l.--SNAP BEANS: Costs and returns in the Palm Beach-Broward area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75

tem :5-season:
S4average-5
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . . .
Average acres per grower. .
Average yield per acre (bushels).

8
9712 :
1214 :
70

7
5710
816
88

Growing costs:

Land rent. . . . . .
Seed . . . . . .
Fertilizer . . . . .
Spray and dust . . . .
Cultural labor . . . .
Machine hire . . . . .
Gas, oil and grease . . . .
Repair and maintenance . . .
Depreciation . . . . .
Licenses and insurance . . .
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months)
Interest on capital invested (other than land)
Miscellaneous expense. . . .

Average per
Acre Acre
32.63 : $ 37.77 :
23.75 : 31.89 :
50.39 : 76.38 :
22.41 : 32.53 :
33.11 : 51.02 :
14.08 : 12.20 :
10.16 : 18.63 :
14.42 : 17.52 :
10.95 : 14.30 :
8.63 : 13.06 :
6.50 : 8.89 :
1.64 : 2.14 :
7.25 : 5.43 :

Total growing cost. . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking and packing expense. .
Containers . . . .
Hauling. . . . .
Selling. . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost .

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales. . . . .
Net return. . . . .

. : 235.92 :

66.85 :
34.42 :
8.79 :
10.32 :

. : 120.38 :

. : 356.30 :
. : 355.97 :
. . :$ -0.33 :

321.76 : $ 3.656

90.91
65.09
13.53
16.34

185.87 :

507.63 :
533.11 :
$ 25.48 :

1.033
.740
.154
.185

2.112

5.768
6.058
$ 0.290

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . .... 65 : 137
Total growing cost. . . . . :$ 262.35 : $ 370.52
Total harvesting and marketing cost . ... : 132.03 : 274.06
Total crop cost . . . . .. 412.03 : .602.87
Crop sales. . . . . ... . 357.18 : 755.36
Net return. . . . ... . $- 97.70 : $ 152.49

Bushel

Table 2.--POLE BEANS: Costs and returns in the Dade County area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item :5-season: 197475
Item 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers. . .
Number of acres. . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (bushels)

7
2268:
324:
276:

7
2324
332
324

Growing costs:

Land Rent . . . . .
Seed . . . . .
Fertilizer. . . . .
Spray and dust. . . . .
Cultural labor .. . .
Machine hire. . ...............
Gas, oil and grease . . .
Repair and maintenance. . .........
Depreciation . . . .
Licenses and insurance. . . .
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months)
Interest on capital invested (other than land)
Miscellaneous expense . . .

Total growing cost . . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking and packing expense .
Containers. . . .
Hauling . . .
Selling . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost.

Total crop cost. . . .
Crop sales . . . .
Net return . . . .

Acre
:$ 37.57
:25.24
:73.87
:57.39
: 195.31
:11.84
:23.34
:36.37
:22.37
:25.30
:16.85
3.36
75.36

Average per
Acre Bushel
:$ 40.49 :
68.99
126.36 :
64.57
279.42 :
15.87 :
27.24 :
35.52
25.45
38.48
23.37
3.82 :
82.11 :

: 604.17 : 831.69 : $ 2.567

220.11
142.82
35.42
50.14

266.13
235.72
48.09
66.43

: 448.49 : 616.37 :

:1052.66
:1292.70
:$240.04

: 1448.06
: 1687.83
:$ 239.77

.821
.728
.148
.205

1.902

4.469
5.209
$ 0.740

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield ( bushels) . . .
Total growing cost . . .
Total harvesting and marketing cost .
Total crop cost . .
Crop sales . . ...
Net returns. . * .

... : 300
$ 767.76
582.00
S. 1349.76
1566.00
: $ 142.71

342
$ 913.70
649.59
1537.10
1816.48
$ 383.67

. . .

. .

Table 3.--CABBAGE: Costs and returns in the Central Florida area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item :5-season: 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . . .
Average acres per grower. .
Average yield per acre (50 Ibs.).

Growing costs:

Land rent . . . . .

Seed . . .
Fertilizer . .
Spray and dust .
Cultural labor ..
Machine hire . .
Gas, oil and grease. .
Repair and maintenance
Depreciation . .
Licenses and insurance
Interest on production
Interest on capital inv
Miscellaneous expense

capital (9% 4 months) .
.sted (other than land)
. . . .
. . . .

capital (9% 4 months)
ested (other than land)
. . . .

: 6
: 1758
: 293
497

Acre
:$ 30.01
45.21
64.03
69.22
:149.45
3.70
10.93
49.07
35.51
25.14
13.97
5.33
18.89

3
1265
422
565

Average per
Acre
$ 27.79
36.00
130.60
100.07
182.70

19.20
70.38
63.13
38.92
18.94
9.47
25.50

Total growing cost. . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking and packing expense. .
Containers . . . .
Hauling . . . .
Selling. . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing costs. .

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales. . . . .
Net return. . . . .

. : 520.46 :

208.78
265.77
33.55
85.18

. : 593.28 :

. :1113.74 :
. :1102.00 :
. :$-11.74 :

722.70 : $ 1.279

236.40
377.50
36.73
98.17

748.80 :

1471.50 :
1500.54 :
$ 29.04 :

.418
.668
.065
.174

1.325

2.604
2.656
$ 0.052

1974-74 range per acre
From To

Yield (50 lbs.) . . . . : 550 581
Total growing cost. . . . . : $ 519.82 $ 943.57
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 625.99 882.53
Total crop cost .. .. . . : 1257.56 1587.26
Crop sales . . . . .. : 1467.24 1563.42
Net return . . . . : $- 98.61 $ 209.55

50. bs.

Table 4.--CABBAGE: Costs and returns in the Hastings area 5-season average
1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season: 1974-75
Item 1974-75
: average :
Number of growers . . . 14 : 12
Number of acres. . . . ... 1694 : 1547
Average acres per grower . . 121 : 129
Average yield per acre (50 bs.) . 429 : 607
Average per
Growing costs: Acre Acre 50 lbs.
Land rent . . . . :$ 34.18 : $ 34.47 :
Seed . . . .. : 54.85 : 74.96 :
Fertilizer. . . . .. : 72.87 : 107.64 :
Spray and dust . . .. : 31.24 : 58.78 :
Cultural labor. . . . :96.21 : 126.85 :
Machine hire. .... . . : 1.93 : 3.99a:
Gas, oil and grease .. . .. 13.59 : 25.41:
Repair and maintenance. ... .... 24.12 : 32.06
Depreciation. ............ .. 19.93 : 29.68
Licenses and insurance .. ... 12.36 : 19.82
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months) ; 10.44 : 14.71
Interest on capital invested (other than land) ; 2.99 : 4.45
Miscellaneous expense . 6.52 : 6.36
Total growing cost . . . 381.23 ; 539.18 :$ 0.888
Harvesting and marketing costs:
Picking and packing expense . .. 127.13 : 215.57 : .355
Containers. .... ... .. ......... : 204.96 : 441.59 .728
Hauling . .. . . .16 : --
Selling . .... . . . : 75.34 : 121.48 .200
Total harvesting and marketing cost. .... 407.59 : 778.64 1.283
Total crop cost. . . . 788.82 : 1317.82 : 2.171
Crop sales . . . . 935.22 : 1649.66 2.718
Net return . . . ;$146.40 : $331.84 $ 0.547

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (50 lbs.). . . . : 414 757
Total growing cost . . . . : $ 353.14 $799.54
Total harvesting and marketing cost . .... : 535.63 1004.74
Total crop cost. .......... 7 : 935.63 1804.28
Crop sales . ... . : 1179.90 2180.98
Net return . ................. : $ 178.66 $ 574.76

aReported by 5 growers averaging $5.33 per acre.

5

Table 5.--CELERY: Costs and returns in the Central Florida area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season:
Item : ea : 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (crates)

4
1620
405
508

3
1477
492
589

Growing costs:

Land rent . . . . .
Seed ... . . . . ..
Fertilizer . . . ....
Spray and dust . . . .
Cultural labor . . . .
Machine hire . . . ....
Gas, oil and grease. . . .
Repair and maintenance . . .
Depreciation . . . . .
Licenses and insurance . . .
Interest on production capital (9% 5 months)
Interest on capital invested (other than land)
Miscellaneous expense . . .

Total growing cost. . . . .

Acre
:$ 39.06
:77.60
: 107.65
: 118.63
: 215.33
8.53
:14.59
:57.06
:16.37
:19.79
:25.48
2.46
21.19

Average per
acre
$ 36.12 :
96.87 :
144.02 :
:150.07 :
:268.69 :
9.07a:
S24.23 :
S61.53 :
24.94 :
15.39 :
S32.43 :
3.74 :
S58.75 :

: 723.74 : 925.85 : $ 1.572

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Cutting and packing expense. .
Containers . . . .
Hauling. . .... *
Other. . . .
Selling. . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . ...
Crop sales, . . ....
Net return, .. . .. .

465.89
300.11
46.43
178.70
89.68

526.83
439.32
54.30
234.66
105.64

... :1080.81 : 1360.75 :

:1804.55
:1791.97
:$-12.58

2286.60
2422.26
$135.66

1974-75 range per acre

Yield (crates) . . .
Total growing cost. . .
Total harvesting and marketing cost
Total crop cost . . ..
Crop sales. . .......
Net return. ....... ..

From
488
. : $832.58
.. : 1014.32
.. : 2020.22
.. : 2023.81
. : $ -5.41

aReported by two growers averaging

Crate

.895
.746
.092
.398
.179

2.310

3.882
4.112
$ 0.230

To
739
$1014.90
1814.87
2744.96
3126.27
$ 381.31

----

$13.61 per acre.

Table 6.--CELERY: Costs and returns in the Everglades area 5-season average
1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season:
Item :5-season: 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (crates)

9
9495
1055
577

10
8354
835
584

Growing costs:

Land rent . . .
Seed . . . .
Fertilizer . . .
Spray and dust . . .
Cultural labor . . .
Machine hire . . .
Gas, oil and grease . .
Repair and maintenance . .
Depreciation . . .
Licenses and insurance . .
Interest on production capital (9%
Interest on capital invested (other
Miscellaneous expense .

Acre
. . :$ 39.84
. . : 69.86
. . : 96.55
. .. : 142.19
. . : 237.19
. . : 15.29
. . : 21.41
. . : 59.20
. : 26.38
. : 25.81
- 5 months) : 27.63
than land) : 3.96
. . : 29.41

Average per
Acre
: $ 52.52 :
108.11:
187.75 :
308.05 :
289.99
12.11a:
34.73 :
77.98 :
36.54 :
33.31 :
43.22
5.48 :
S47.97

Total growing cost . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Cutting and packing expense .
Containers . . *
Hauling . . ... *
Other.. . .........
Selling. . . ......

Total harvesting and marketing cost .

Total crop cost . . ..
Crop sales . .. ..... *
Net return .. * *

. : 794.72 : 1237.76 : $ 2.120

502.34
329.49
62.85
181.50
85.34

583.19
467.12
73.58
238.14
86.43

. .. :1161.52 : 1448.46 :

:1956.24
:2137.75
:$181.51

: 2686.22
: 2128.06
:$-558.16

.998
.800
.126
.408
.148

2.480

4.600
3.644
$-0.956

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (crates). . .............. 430 : 737
Total growing cost. . . . :$ 946.56 : $1693.01
Total harvesting and marketing cost .. . .. : 1091.73 : 1877.93
Total crop cost. . . . . : *2056.10 : 3352.29
Crop sales. . ............... : 1472.81 : 2750.85
Net return. . . . . .... .$-1194.40 : $ 48.07

aReported by five growers averaging $24.22 per acre.

Crate

Table 7.--SWEET CORN: Costs and returns in the Central Florida area 5-
season average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (crates)

:5-season:
average
S 4
3028
S 757
S 251

Growing costs:
Acre
Land rent. . . . . :$ 31.40
Seed . . . . ... .. : 10.05
Fertilizer . . .. .... : 37.50
Spray and dust . . . .... : 54.42
Cultural labor .... . . ... : 37.42
Machine hire . . .... .. .. : 11.34
Gas, oil and grease . . .. : 7.32
Repair and maintenance . . ... : 40.68
Depreciation . . . .... .. : 14.60
Licenses and insurance . . . : 15.29
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months) : 7.64
Interest on capital invested (other than land) : 2.19
Miscellaneous expense . .... .. : 9.30

Total growing cost. . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking and packing expense .
Containers . . .
Hauling . . .
Other. . . . .
Selling. . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost .

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales . .. .. ..
Net return. . . . .

Average per
Acre
$ 30.53 :
14.13 :
64.77
S 98.33 :
S 66.87 :
S 10.35a:
13.40 :
47.62 :
S 16.08 :
20.20 :
S 11.60 :
S 2.41 :
20.63

. .. : 279.15 : 416.92 : $ 1.418

131.55
113.62
18.34
76.84
42.10

168.91
186.98
24.57
92.72
41.04

. .. : 382.45 : 514.22 :

: 661.60
: 687.60
:$ 26.00

931.14
1248.42
$317.28

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (crates) . . . . 228 : 361
Total growing cost . . . . : $253.31 : $ 517.05
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . .. 334.01 : 660.12
Total crop cost . . . . . 728.69 : 1103.35
Crop sales . . . . . : 974.11 : 1535.50
Net return . . . . . $229.50 : $ 494.02

aReported by two growers averaging

1974-75

4
3552
888
294

Crate

.574
.636
.084
.315
.140

1.749

3.167
4.246
$ 1.079

I

$20.70 per acre.

8

Table 8.--SWEET CORN: Costs and returns in the Everglades area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item :5-season: 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (crates)

16 :
:21728 :
1358 :
180 :

11
14636
1331
226

Growing costs:

Land rent. . . .
Seed . . . .
Fertilizer . . .
Spray and dust . . .
Cultural labor . . .
Machine hire . . .
Gas, oil and grease . .
Repair and maintenance . .
Depreciation . . .
Licenses and insurance . .
Interest on production capital (

9

Interest on capital invested (oth
Miscellaneous expense . .

. . :$
. . :

. . :
:

% 4 months) :
er than land) :

Total growing cost. . . . :

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking and packing expense. .
Containers . . . .
Hauling. . . . .
Other . . . .
Selling . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales . .. ... ... .
Net return. . . . .

Average per
Acre Acre Crate
32.01: $ 28.43 :
6.72: 12.79 :
24.82: 29.39
57.45: 95.49
34.18: 41.77
16.54: 15.67a:
7.01: 10.58
15.64: 28.28
12.51: 14.90
6.46: 10.36
6.20: 8.53
1.88: 2.24
5.95: 11.69

227.37: 310.12 : $ 1.372

97.10:
88.47:
19.04:
54.46:
27.12:

142.33
158.42
27.40
83.64
33.36

286.19: 445.15 :

513.56:
520.46:
6.90:

755.27
851.49
$ 96.22

.630
.701
.121
.370
.148

1.970

3.342
3.768
$ 0.426

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (crates) . . . . . 168 308
Total growing cost . . . . .. : $147.41 : $430.79
Total harvesting and marketing cost . ... : 332.15 : 636.81
Total crop cost . . .. .. . : 590.05 : 1062.61
Crop sales. . . . . . : 651.55 : 1036.34
Net return . . . . . .. : $-44.48 : $397.65

aReported by nine growers averaging $19.15 per acre.

9

Table 9.--SWEET CORN: Costs and returns in.the Lower East Coast area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item :5-season: 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (crates)

Growing costs:

Land rent. . . . . .
Seed . . . . . .
Fertilizer . . . . .
Spray and dust . . . .
Cultural labor . . . .
Machine hire . . . . .
Gas, oil and grease. . . .
Repair and maintenance . . .
Depreciation . . . . .
Licenses and insurance . . .
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months)
Interest on capital invested (other than land)
Miscellaneous expense . . .

Total growing cost. . . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking and packing expense. .
Containers . . . .
Hauling. . . . .
Other. . . . .
Selling. . . . .

4
4880
1220
155

Acre
38.77
10.20
75.15
49.00
47.95
23.90
11.20
23.61
18.17
14.47
9.09
2.73
8.80

: 333.04 :

76.56
73.73
20.46
43.49
21.72

Total harvesting and marketing cost . : 235.96 :

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales. . . . .
Net return. . .. .. .

569.00 :
546.84 :
$-22.16:

4
5800
1450
179

Average per
Acre
:$ 35.52 :
17.92 :
: 113.43 :
69.46 :
41.10 :
11.20a:
17.40 :
25.00 :
8.50 :
8.74 :
10.36 :
1.28 :
5.34 :

365.25 : $ 2.040

102.45
117.00 :
27.11 :
63.90
24.80

335.26 :

700.51 :
707.16
$ 6.65 :

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (crates). . . . . . 141 : 238
Total growing cost. . . . . .. :$ 316.79 : $ 390.53
Total harvesting and marketing cost . .. 288.33 : 436.20
Total crop cost . .... .. . . : 605.12 : 803.33
Crop sales. . ... .. . . : 577.78 : 825.30
Net return . . . . :$-110.05 :$ 119.54

aReported by three growers averaging $14.93 per acre.

Crate

.572
.654
.151
.357
.139

1.873

3.913
3.950
$ 0.037

Table 10.--CUCUMBERS: Costs and returns in the Immokalee-Lee area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season: 1974
Ite average : 1974-75
:average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . . .
Average acres per grower. .
Average yield per acre (bushels).

10 :
1490 :
149 :
200 :

10
1304
130
305

Growing costs:
Acre
Land rent. . ... .. . .. :$ 19.17
Seed . .... . . ... : 11.26
Fertilizer . .... .. . . .. : 107.77
Spray and dust ... .. ... . .. : 53.09
Cultural labor ...... .. . : 126.60
Machine hire . .... .. . ..... : 34.17
Gas, oil and grease. .... .. . .. : 23.73
Repair and maintenance . . . : 43.27
Depreciation . . . . : 28.82
Licenses and insurance . . . : 11.24
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months) : 13.71
Interest on capital invested (other than land) : 4.32
Miscellaneous expense ...... .. .. : 26.61

Average per
Acre
S$ 29.76 :
S 16.69 :
S176.10 :
S 95.57
S166.83 :
S 28.62 :
S 54.72 :
S 51.32 :
S 43.77
S 27.86 :
S 24.94 :
S 6.57
S 17.72 :

Total growing cost . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking expense. . .....
Grading and packing expense. .
Containers . . . .
Hauling. . . . .
Selling. . .........

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales. . ........
Net return. . .........

. : 503.76 : 740.47 : $ 2.428

175.78
126.32
123.61
43.26
35.40

265.01
273.75
202.96
51.89
52.69

.869
.898
.665
.170
.173

. : 504.37 : 846.30 : 2.775

:1008.13
: 945.45
:$-62.68

1586.77
1707.87
$121.10

5.203
5.600
$ 0.397

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . .
Total growing cost. . ....
Total harvesting and marketing cost .
Total crop cost . * .
Crop sales. . ......... *
Net return. . .........

Bushel

141
:$ 612.75
: 370.12
: 998.85
.. : 705.00
. :$-302.75

450
$ 849.11
1192.50
1903.36
3150.00
$1265.19

11

Table 11.--CUCUMBERS: Costs and returns in the Palm Beach-Broward area
season 1974-75

Item

Number of growers. . .
Number of acres. . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (bushels)

1974-75

480
69
238

Growing costs: A

Land rent . . ...... .. :
Seed. . . . . .
Fertilizer. .. . . . :
Spray and dust ..... . . :
Cultural labor. . . . .
Machine hire. . . ...... :
Gas, oil and grease ... . .. .. :
Repair and maintenance. . . .. :
Depreciation. . . . ...... :
Licenses and insurance. . . :
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months):
Interest on capital invested (other than land):
Miscellaneous expense ... . :

Total growing cost .... . . .. :

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking or cutting expense. .
Grading and packing expense .
Containers. . . .
Hauling . . . .
Selling ... . ...

Total harvesting and marketing cost.

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales . ..... .
Net return . .... .

average per
Acre Bushel~
$ 59.33
11.52
84.49
77.05
128.31
32.56
26.10
40.63
32.95
27.72
15.32
4.94
23.14

564.06 : $ 2.370

276.21
167.84
170.29
39.23
42.24

. . : 695.81 :

1259.87
1372.04
112.17

1.161
.705
.716
.165
.177

2.924

5.294
5.765
0.471

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . .. : 91 : 365
Total growing cost ... .. . . :$ 405.30 : $ 831.76
Total harvesting and marketing cost. . : 250.33 :1197.02
Total crop cost. .... .. . .. : 850.32 :1696.35
Crop sales . . . . : 546.00 2193.83
Net return . .. . . :$-384.44 : $ 943.41

s

Table 12.--EGGPLANT: Costs and returns in the Palm Beach-Broward area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item :5-season: 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (bushels).

5 :
270 :
54 :
629

6
306
51
794

Growing cost:

Land rent. . . . .

Seed . . . . .
Fertilizer . . . .
Spray and dust . .. . .
Cultural labor . . .
Machine hire . . . .
Gas, oil and grease. . . .
Repair and maintenance . .
Depreciation . . .
Licenses and insurance .. ..
Interest on production capital (9% 5

. .
. .
. .
* .
. .
* .*
. .
. .
mont

Interest on capital invested (other than la
Miscellaneous expense. . . .

Acre
:$ 49.13
: 12.46
: 209.80
: 110.22
S.: 250.54
S: 32.13
S. : 35.38
S.: 53.27
S.: 47.02
31.04
hs) : 30.25
nd) : 7.05
. : 22.70

Average per
Acre
$ 52.23 :
27.18 :
323.42 :
182.93 :
389.44
59.19
67.18
93.80 :
77.36
65.32 :
50.29
11.60 :
80.46 :

Total growing cost. . . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

: 890.99 : 1480.40 : $ 1.864

Picking and packing expense. .
Containers . . . .
Hauling. . . . .
Selling. . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales . .. .
Net return . ... .. .

319.39
362.76
70.29
91.93

540.32
467.92
122.52
141.64

. : 844.37 : 1272.40 :

:1735.36
:1755.11
:$ 19.75

2752.80
3029.91
$277.11

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . .... 500 1374
Total growing cost. . . . . ... :$ 973.70 : $2187.86
Total harvesting and marketing cost . ... : 855.44 : 1968.52
Total crop cost . . . . .: 1829.14 : 4156.38
Crop sales. . . . .... .. . : 1375.00 : 5668.92
Net return. . . . .... . :$-872.67 : $1512.54

Bushel

.681
.589
.154
.179

1.603

3.467
3.816
$ 0.349

13

Table 13.--LEAF CROPS: Costs and returns in the Central Florida area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season:
Item :5-season: 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (crates)

9
1350
150
356

5
803
161
690

Growing costs:
Acre
Land rent. . .... .. . :$ 24.28
Seed . . .... . . : 8.08
Fertilizer .... .. . . ; 42.80
Spray and dust ... .. . . : 35.82
Cultural labor . . . : 132.02
Machine hire ..... .. . ........ : 3.27
Gas, oil and grease. . ... . : 7.91
Repair and maintenance ...... . : 50.85
Depreciation . .... .. . .. : 32.32
Licenses and insurance . . : 23.73
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months) : 10.48
Interest on capital invested (other than land) 4 4.85
Miscellaneous expense . . : 20.58

Average per
Acre Crate
:$ 31.43
52.59
65.77
71.77 :
187.61:

16.64
72.61
34.73
42.89
17.50
5.21 :
41.96 :

Total growing cost . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking and packing expense. .
Containers . . ......
Hauling. . ....... *...
Other. . ...... ...
Selling. . *.........

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . ..
Crop sales. . ........ .
Net return . *

. : 396.99 :

110.14
119.19
33.14
91.30
46.76

. : 400.53 :

: 797.52
: 933.98
:$136.46

640.71.: $ 0.929

210.03
427.02
44.63
166.77
91.97

940.42 :

1581.13 :
2143.00 :
$561.87 :

.304
.619
.065
.242
.133

1.363

2.292
3.106
$ 0.814

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (crates). . .
Total growing cost. . .
Total harvesting and marketing cost
Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales. . ... .. *
Net return... ...... *

S. .: 405
$531.66
.. 688.10 :
S. : 1381.11 :
: 1296.33 :
.. : $-84.78 :

908
$ 751.14
1562.97
2094.63
2749.95
$1165.31

Table 14.--LEAF CROPS: Costs and returns in the Everglades area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item 5-season: 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (crates)

: 9
: 5562
: 618
: 360

8
3884
486
396

Growing costs:
Acre
Land rent . . . . :$ 35.10
Seed . . . . : 6.83
Fertilizer . . . . : 31.74
Spray and dust . . . : 31.03
Cultural labor . . . ... ; 99.92
Machine hire . . . .. : 8.43
Gas, oil and grease. . . .. ; 9.18
Repair and maintenance . . .. : 27.01
Depreciation . . . . : 18.20
Licenses and insurance . . : 10.13
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months) : 8.14
Interest on capital invested (other than land) : 2.73
Miscellaneous expense. . . ... : 11.84

Total growing cost . . . .

Harvesting and marketing cost:

Average per
Acre
36.27
9.73
51.97
56.49
:123.32
12.85
14.02
42.25
24.56
10.14
11.24
3.69
17.62

: 300.28 : 414.15 : $ 1.046

Picking and packing expense .
Containers . . .
Hauling . . . .
Other . . . .
Selling . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales . . .
Net return . . . .

145.91
170.90
36.80
90.44
55.25

. : 499.30 :

799.58
810.90
11.32

167.36
260.46
51.01
136.49
59.83

.422
.658
.129
.345
.151

675.15 : 1.705

1089.30
1061.20
$-28.10

: 2.751
2.680
: $-0.071

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (crates). . . . 214 : 807
Total growing cost. . . . . ... : $294.73 : $ 713.70
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . .. : 372.67 :1406.84
Total crop cost . . . . : 723.63 : 2120.54
Crop sales. . . . . . : 554.46 : 2344.95
Net return. . . . . . .. :$-169.17 : $ 224.41

Crate

Table 15.--PEPPERS: Costs and returns in the Immokalee-Lee area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season:
Item :5-season: 1974-75
:average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres. . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (bushels)

12
2352
196
426

11
1971
179
684

Growing costs:

Land rent . . . . .
Seed . . . . ..
Fertilizer. . . . . .
Spray and dust. . . ....
Cultural labor. . . . .
Machine hire. . . . .
Gas, oil and grease . . .
Repair and maintenance . .,
Depreciation. . . .... .. *
Licenses and insurance . . .
Interest on production capital (9% 5 months)
Interest on capital invested (other than land)
Miscellaneous expense . . ...

Total growing cost . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Acre
:$ 22.19
50.54
:179.83
:138.60
:281.55
64.86
44.96
94.80
47.39
27.54
36.06
7.11
56.65

Average per
Acre
:$ 24.68 :
81.62 :
: 276.06 :
235.63
393.53
27.37
94.44
101.28
64.18
46.17
50.46
9.63
64.91

. .. :1052.08 : 1469.96 : $ 2.149

Picking expense . .
Grading and packing expense .
Containers. . . .
Hauling . . .
Selling . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost. .

Total crop cost. . . .
Crop sales . . . .
Net return . . . .

. : 842.54 : 1480.13 :

:1894.62
:2007.28
:$112.66

2950.09
3534.78
$584.69

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels). . . . . .. 400 : 1000
Total growing cost . . . . .. :$ 958.20 : $1966.85
Total harvesting and marketing cost. . ... : 944.00 : 2400.00
Total crop cost. .... . . ..... : 1902.20 : 3699.28
Crop sales . . . . . : 1800.00 : 5000.00
Net return . . . . :$-106.52 : $1351.71

Bushel

231.64
247.03
212.68
72.92
78.27

369.36
558.67
322.57
113.62
115.91

.540
.817
.472
.166
.169

2.164

4.313
5.168
$ 0.855

16

Table 16.--PEPPERS: Costs and returns in the Palm Beach-Broward area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

.:5-season:
Item :sea 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (bushels).

8
1120
140
433

12
1211
101
709

Growing costs:
Acre
Land rent. . . . . :$ 49.64
Seed . . . . ... : 39.18
Fertilizer . . . . : 166.35
Spray and dust . . . . : 117.55
Cultural labor . . . . : 363.00
Machine hire . . . . : 55.47
Gas, oil and grease. . . ... ... : 43.30
Repair and maintenance . . . : 65.53
Depreciation ... . . .. : 53.42
Licenses and insurance . . . : 49.82
Interest on production capital (9% 5 months) : 37.90
Interest on capital invested (other than land) : 8.01
Miscellaneous expense . . . : 60.89

Average per
Acre
$ 57.40 :
81.52 :
291.33 :
196.96 :
529.31 :
77.93
76.00 :
93.08 :
65.63
79.49 :
61.81 :
9.84 :
158.54 :

Total growing cost . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking and packing expense .
Containers . . . .
Hauling . . . .
Selling . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales . . .
Net return . . .

. . :1110.06 : 1778.84

: 265.18
: 195.45
: 54.98
: 74.76

478.47
349.95
107.51
129.30

. : 590.37 : 1065.23 :

:1700.43
:1985.79
:$285.36

: 2844.07
: 3852.99
:$1008.92

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . . . 305 1104
Total growing cost. . . . ... :$1179.21 : $2856.23
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . .. : 432.25 : 1486.25
Total crop cost ..... ... ... . : 1611.46 : 4330.27
Crop sales. . .... .. . . . : 1463.51 : 6676.80
Net return. ... .. . . . . :$-1575.67 : $2646.92

Bushel

: $ 2.509

.675
.493
.152
.182

1.502

4.011
5.434
$ 1.423

17

Table 17.--IRISH POTATOES: Costs and returns in the Dade County area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item :5-season: 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower. .
Average yield per acre (cwt.)

8 :
5272 :
659 :
171:

8
5128
641
206

Growing costs:

Land rent . . . . .
Seed . . . . . .
Fertilizer . . . . .
Spray and dust . . . .
Cultural labor ... . . .
Machine hire . . . . .
Gas, oil and grease. . . .
Repair and maintenance . . .
Depreciation . . . . .
Licenses and insurance . . .
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months)
Interest on capital invested (other than land)
Miscellaneous expense . . .

Acre
:$ 55.75
:147.54 :
64.70 :
71.77 :
69.63 :
.89 :
10.28 :
23.81 :
21.41:
20.17 :
14.27 :
3.21
11.08

average per
Acre
$ 63.06 :
209.01 :
103.03 :
85.23 :
91.62 :
1.99a;
16.45 :
31.41 :
26.13 :
32.04 :
19.46 :
3.92 :
14.94 :

Total growing cost. . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Digging expense . . .
Grading and packing expense .. .
Containers . . .
Hauling. . . ....
Selling. . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . ..
Crop sales. . . . .
Net return . . .

. : 514.51 : 698.29 : $ 3.390

: 30.54 :
:114.62 :
29.78 :
27.03
36.53 :

:238.50 :

38.51
166.02
59.82
33.20
51.62

.187
.806
.290
.161
.251

349.17: 1.695

: 753.01 : 1047.46 : 5.085
:1082.86 : 907.28 : 4.404
:$329.85 :$-140.18 : $-0.681

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (cwt.). . . . . .. 188 230
Total growing cost. . . . .. .. :$ 622.21 : $ 764.89
Total harvesting and marketing cost . ... : 275.79 : 420.92
Total crop cost . .... .. . . : 932.79 : 1185.81
Crop sales. . ... .. . . . : 761.63 : 1025.14
Net return. .... . . . :$-298.25 : $ 29.86

aReported by four growers averaging $3.98 per acre.

Cwt.

Table 18.--IRISH POTATOES: Costs and returns in the Hastings area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season:
Item :5-season: 1974-75
Average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower. .
Average yield per acre (cwt.)

23 :
5129 :
223 :
150 :

16
4040
252
190

Growing costs:

Land rent. . . . .
Seed . . . .
Fertilizer . . . .
Spray and dust . . .
Cultural labor . . .
Machine hire.. . .. .
Gas, oil and grease. . .
Repair and maintenance . .
Depreciation . . .
Licenses and insurance . .
Interest on production capital (9% -
Interest on capital invested (other
Miscellaneous expense . .

Total growing cost. . . .

Harvesting and marketing cost:

Digging expense. . . .
Grading and packing expense. .
Containers . . .....
Hauling . . .
Selling . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales. . . ...
Net return. . . .

. . :$

4 months) :
than land) :

Acre
35.16
97.61
74.99
27.59
47.60
4.25
13.43
28.10
22.47
11.84
10.44
3.37
7.49

Average per
Acre
: $ 39.56 :
S139.25 :
S127.72 :
S59.87 :
64.46
5.81a:
23.75 :
47.79 :
33.56 :
S19.35 :
16.10 :
S 5.03
9.12 :

. : 384.34 : 591.37 : $ 3.113

29.01
43.44
14.73
23.15
35.66

. : 145.99 :

. : 530.33 :
. : 649.33 :
.. : 119.00 :

37.43
60.18
6.36b:
28.62
45.67

178.26 :

769.63
834.10
64.47

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (cwt.). . . . . .. 100 : 286
Total growing cost. . . ........... : $468.54 : $726.67
Total harvesting and marketing cost ..... .. : 94.00 :247.45
Total crop cost ..... .. . . . : 602.87 930.95
Crop sales . . . . ...... : 432.96 : 1119.09
Net return . . . . . :$-209.52 $245.75

aReported by 10 growers averaging $9.30 per acre.
bReported by five growers averaging $20.35 per acre.

Cwt.

.197
.317
.033
.151
.240

.938

4.051
4.390
0.339

Table 19.--PRADISHES: Costs and returns in the Everglades area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season:
Item 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (30-6oz.

packages)

4
9044 :
2261 :
234 :

3
9498
3166
261

Growing costs:

Land rent. .. . . . .
Seed .. . . . . .
Fertilizer . . . . .
Spray and dust . . . .
Cultural labor ... . . .
Machine hire . . . .
Gas, oil and grease. . . . .
Repair and maintenance . . .
Depreciation . . . .
Licenses and insurance . . .
Interest on production capital (9% 2 months)
Interest on capital invested (other than land)
Miscellaneous expense . . ,

Acre
:$ 8.12
7.27
6.99
: 10.00
: 13.25
4.17
3.61
9.84
6.71
4.78
1.07
1.01
3.17

Average per 30-6oz.
Acre pkgs.
: $ 6.02 :
11.59 :
9.02 :
12.19 :
23.78 :
2.18 :
5.11:
10.63 :
7.00 :
; 3.95 :
1.31 :
1.05 :
3.05 :

Total growing cost. ..... ,

Harvesting and marketing cost:

Harvesting expense . . .
Grading and packing expense. .
Containers . . ....
Hauling. . . . .
Selling. . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales. . . .. .
Net return. . . .

79.99 :

23.21
83.14
48.45
9.00
20.77

. . : 184.57 :

264.56
314.70
50.14

96.88 : $ 0.371

14.78
90.12
72.91
9.01
39.47

226.29 :

323.17 :
393.97 :
70.80 :

.057
.345
.279
.035
.151

.867

1.238
1.509
0.271

Yield (30-6 oz. packages) . .
Total growing cost. . .
Total harvesting and marketing cost
Total crop cost . .. .
Crop sales. . .....
Net return. ..........

1974-75 range per acre

From
. . : 177
. . $ 55.73
. 199.35
. 262.09
. 267.32
. ... . $- 1.92

To
324
$165.02
273.16
438.18
474.67
$212.58

. !

Table 20.--SQUASH: Costs and returns in the Dade County area 5-season average
1970-74 and 1974-75

tem:5-season: 1974-75
:average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . . .
Average acres per grower. .
Average yield per acre (bushels)

Growing costs:

Land rent. . . .
Seed . . . .
Fertilizer . . .
Spray and dust . . .
Cultural labor . . .
Machine hire . . .
Gas, oil and grease. . .
Repair and maintenance . .
Depreciation . . .
Licenses and insurance .. ..
Interest on production capital (9
Interest on capital invested (oth
Miscellaneous. . .

6
1122 :
187 :
137 :

6
1450
242
162

Average per
Acre Acre
. . :$ 31.36 : $ 37.80 :

%- 4 months)
er than land) :
. :
. 4 .onths) :
er. tha .land :

7.95
55.34
48.67
42.21
10.22
18.97
27.30
18.29
19.25
8.07
2.74
7.65

21.75
89.67
78.50
67.61
14.38
28.19
36.40
29.69
34.26
12.70
4.45
14.74

Total growing cost. . . . .

Harvesting and marketing cost:

Picking and packing expense. . .
Containers . . . . .
Hauling . . . . ..
Selling . . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost .

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales. . . . .
Net return. . . . .

q

: 298.02 :

169.17
91.83
17.63
28.01

. : 306.64 :

604.66
735.38
130.72

470.14 : $ 2.902

222.25
114.96 .
24.38
32.50

394.09

864.23
925.66
61.43

1.372
.710
.150
.201

2.433

5.335
5.714
0.379

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . ..... . . 145 : 200
Total growing cost. ... .. . . . :$ 367.72 : $574.26
Total harvesting and marketing cost . ... : 338.17 : 466.00
Total crop cost . .... . . ... : 805.16 : 961.26
Crop sales . . . . . : 840.00 : 1100.00
Net return . . . .......... :$-121.26 : $266.28

Bushel

21

Table 21.--SQUASH: Costs and returns in the Immokalee-Lee area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season:
Item; average : 1974-75
;average :

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower. .
Average yield per acre (bushels).

4
848
212
154

6
1160
193
218

Growing costs:

Land rent. . .
Seed . . .
Fertilizer . .
Spray and dust .
Cultural labor .
Machine hire . .
Gas, oil and grease.
Repair and maintenance
Deprecation . .
Licenses and insurance
Interest on production

. 9 0 9

* 9 .

c t. 9

capital (9%

* .
9 9

4 r

* .
. .
4moO

Interest on capital invested (other than
Miscellaneous expense .

Acre
:$ 19.92
. : 13.26
. : 77.22
32.31
. : 58.01
S: 10.18
. : 18.93
27.05
S. :23.63
11.60
nths) : 8.36
land) : 3.54
9 : 10.20

Average per
Acre Bushel
:$ 28.82 :
20.83 :
159.92 :
78.38 :
93.71 :
16.08 :
35.65
26.97 :
25.72 :
19.15 :
14.72 :
3.86 :
11.14 :

Total growing cost. ..... ,. ,

Harvesting and marketing costs;

Picking expense . . .
Grading and packing expense,. ,
Containers . *
Hauling . ..........
Selling. ... .... .

Total harvesting and marketing cost .

Total crop cost . .
Crop sales . . ........
Net return. . * .

, ; 314.21 : 534.95 : $ 2.454

74.76
88.44
93.16
39.36
30.37

165.07
172.16
139.09
40.23
42.56

: 326.09 : 559.11 :

640.30
692.48
52.18

1094.06
1240.26
146.20

.757
.790
.638
.185
.195

2.565

5.019
5.689
0.670

Yield (bushels) . . .
Total growing cost. . .
Total harvesting and marketing cost
Total crop cost . .
Crop sales. ... .* T
Net return. . .. *

1974-75 range per acre

From

. : 100
* :$ 362.38
. : 360.00
. : 862.38
. : 700.00
S. :$-222.68

To
300
:$ 617.03
662.50
:1279.53
:1593.00
:$ 417.84

22

Table 22.--SQUASH: Costs and returns in the Palm Beach-Broward area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item :5-season 1974-75
:average :

Number of growers . .. .. . 5 : 6
Number of acres .. . . ... ... .: 185 : 300
Average acres per grower. . ... : 37 : 50
Average yield per acre (bushels). .... : 120 : 123

Growing costs:

Land rent. . . . .
Seed . . . .
Fertilizer . . . .
Spray and dust . . .
Cultural labor . . .
Machine hire . . .
Gas, oil and grease. . .
Repair and maintenance . .
Depreciation . . .
Licenses and insurance . .
Interest on production capital (9% -

. *
. .

* .
. .

4 months)

Interest on capital invested (other than land)
Miscellaneous expense . . .

Total growing cost. . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking and packing expense .
Containers. . . .
Hauling . . . .
Selling . . . .

Acre
:$ 36.57
8.87
57.74
:,39.67
67.99
S22.69
16.63
21.30
17.32
17.07
9.14
2.60
16.30

: 333.89 :

. : 134.84
. : 88.64
. : 19.46
. : 24.73

Average per
Acre
$ 42.25 :
15.54 :
: 80.80 :
59.75 :
71.89 :
38.54 :
: 42.91 :
48.67 :
40.72
29.12 :
: 13.55 :
6.11 :
22.10 :

511.95 : $ 4.162

152.56
76,81
19.16
21.39

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales . . . .
Net return . . . .

.. : 267.67

. : 601.56 :
. : 683.78 :

269.92 : 2.195

781.87 : 6.357
655.46 : 5.329

:$ 82.22 :$-126.41 : $-1.028

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . . : 76 : 200
Total growing cost . . . .. : $365.44 : $852.69
Total harvesting and marketing cost. . ... : 173.04 : 395.53
Total crop cost. . . . . .. : 607.16 : 1248.22
Crop sales . .......... . . 389.12 1061.83
Net return . . . . . :$-274.38 $ -6.69

Bushel

1.240
.625
.156
.174

Table 23.--TOMATOES: Costs and returns in the Dade County area 5-season
average 1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season: 1974-75
Itemaverage :
:average:

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (30 lb.)

7 :
7112 :
1016 :
378 :

5
2820
564
822

Growing costs:

Land rent. . .
Seed . . .
Fertilizer . .
Spray and dust . .
Cultural labor .
Machine hire . .
Gas, oil and grease. .
Repair and maintenance .
Depreciation . .
Licenses and insurance .
Interest on production c
Interest on capital inve
Miscellaneous expense

Acre
. . :$ 36.82
. . : 12.26
. . : 158.52
. . : 143.84
. . : 138.69
. . : 21.94
. . : 24.06
. . : 46.36
. . : 35.57
. . : 18.69
capital (9% 5 months) : 23.61
sted (other than land) : 5.34
. . : 28.40

Average per
Acre
:$ 34.05 :
S 39.80 :
: 286.60 :
S367.74 :
: 201.51 :
S 13.35 :
S 38.33 :
: 48.01
50.76
38.47
S 45.61
S 7.61
: 148.48

Total growing cost. . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking expense . . .
Grading and packing expense. .
Containers . . . .
Hauling. . . . .
Selling. . ..........

Total harvesting and marketing cost .

Tntal crop cost . . .
Crop sales. . . .
Net return . ... .

... : 694.10 : 1320.32 : $ 1.606

... : 212.12 : 457.06 : .556
... : 246.48 : 728.75 : .886
.. : 136.23 : 435.55 : .530
: 41.12 : 78.12 : .095
... : 45.60 : 119.04 : .145

. : 681.55 : 1818.52 :

:1375.65
:1561.48
:$185.83

3138.84
3742.92
$604.08

2.212

3.818
4.553
$ 0.735

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (30 lbs.) .. . .......
Total growing cost. . ..
Total harvesting and marketing cost .
Total crop cost . ... .
Crop sales. . * *
Net return. ........... *

423
.. : $909.20
. : 936.50
.. : 1950.93
. : 2157.30
.. :$ 206.37

30 lb.

980
: $1575.40
:2172.00
:3735.84
:4876.80
: $1140.96

-- ---

Table 24.--TOMATOES: Costs and returns in the Ft. Pierce area
5 season average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item

Number of growers. . . .
Number of acres. . . .
Average acres per grower . .
Average yield per acre (30 lbs.) .

Growing costs:

Land rent. . . .
Seed . . . .
Fertilizer . . . .
Spray and dust . . .
Cultural labor . .....
Machine hire . . .
Gas, oil and grease . .
Repair and maintenance . .
Depreciation . . .
Licenses and insurance . .
Interest on production capital (9% -
Interest on capital invested (other
Miscellaneous expense . .

:5-season:
:average
S 15.
S3660
S244
S305

Acre
.:$ 17.41
. 14.56
.... 116.57
.. : 108.11
. : 164.84
. 95.49
. 34.89
. 57.26
. 29.70
. 11.48
5 months): 24.06
than land): 4.46
. . 21.01

1974-75

10
2395
240
425

Average per
Acre
$ 22.88
20.94
S193.24
:100.60
: 173.36
: 104.11
S 57.66
62.62
S 40.10
21.44
S 29.55
S 6.01
S 31.15

Total growing cost . . ... .: 699.84 :

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking expense. . . .
Grading and packing expense .
Containers . . . .
Hauling . . . .
Selling . . . .

218.06
185.75
106.37
45.95
43.39

863.66 : $ 2.032

287.19
408.57
205.48
76.97
61.97

Total harvesting and marketing cost .... .: 599.52 : 1040.18 :

Total crop cost . . .
Crops sales . . .
Net return . .

.:1299.36 :
.:1231.53 :
.: -67.83 :

1903.84
1965.31
61.47

.676
.961
.484
.181
.146

2.448

4.480
4.624
0.144

1974-75 range per acre

Yield (30 lb.) . . .
Total growing cost . . .
Total harvesting and marketing cost.
Total crop cost. . . .
Crop sales . . . .
Net return . . .

From
. . : 339
. . . :$ 680.10
. . : 866.38
S . . : 1672.84
S . : 1484.74
. . $-220.00

30 lb.

To
541
983.70
1325.45
2131.66
2683.18
551.52

~I_

Table 25.--STAKED TOMATOES: Costs and returns in the Immokalee-Lee area
5-season average 1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season:
: average :

1974-75

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . .
Average acres per grower. .
Average yield per acre (30 lb.)

Growing costs:

Land rent. . .
Seed . . .
Fertilizer . .
Spray and dust ..
Cultural labor .
Machine hire . .
Gas, oil and grease. .
Repair and maintenance
Depreciation . .
Licenses and insurance
Interest on production

.

. . .
. .
. . .
. .

. .
capital (9%-

Interest on capital invested (other
Miscellaneous expense . .

5 months)
than land)
S *.
. .

5 months)
than land)
. *.

: 9
1971
: 219
: 745

Acre
:$ 35.33
:55.22
: 195.09
: 267.22
: 583.42
:75.98
:57.22
: 103.99
:77.88
:48.30
:59.04
:11.68
: 152.70

17
3526
207
1029

Average per
Acre 30 lb.
$ 38.67 :
86.96 :
: 321.02 :
371.25
665.22 :
: 107.46 :
101.53 :
:119.68 :
78.39 :
69.55 :
79.16 :
11.76 :
229.46 :

Total growing cost. . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking expense . . .
Grading and packing expense. . .
Containers . . .
Hauling. . . . .
Selling. . .. . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost .

Total crop cost ... . . .
Crop sales. . . . .
Net return. . . . .

. .. :1723.07 : 2280.11 : $2.216

: 576.09
: 590.25
: 271.29
: 96.52
: 103.95

533.98
997.96
499.68
148.79
142.08

. :1638.10 : 2322.49 : 2.257

:3361.17
:3668.76
: 307.59

: 4602.60 : 4.473
: 5197.31 : 5.051
: 594.71 :$ 0.578

1974-75 range per acre
From To
Yield . . . . . ... : 500 : 1750
Total growing cost. . . . . ... :$1090.17 : $3296.70
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . .. : 1125.00 : 3789.81
Total crop cost . . . .... ... : 2513.40 :7086.51
Crop sales. . . . . ... . : 2500.00 : 8080.00
Net return. . . . . ... . :$-286.35 : $1600.49

Item

.519
.970
.485
.145
.138

. . . .

Table 26.--STAKED TOMATOES: Costs and returns in the Manatee-Ruskin area
5 season average 1970-74 and 1974-75

:5-season:
Item :5-season: 1974-75
: average :

Number of growers. .
Number of acres. . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (30

11
2145
195
590

lb.)

13
1814
140
781

Growing costs:

Land rent . .
Seed . . .
Fertilizer. . .
Spray and dust. .
Cultural labor. .
Machine hire. . .
Gas, oil and grease .
Repair and maintenance.
Depreciation. . .
Licenses and insurance.

Interest on production capital (9% -
Interest on capital invested (other
Miscellaneous expense . .

Acre
. :$ 34.75
. 37.56
. : 167.77
. : 133.07
. : 339.89
. 20.16
. 53.29
. 65.76
. 55.08
. 49.81
5 months): 36.79
than land): 8.26
. : 79.15

Average per
Acre
$ 47.74 :
S77.76
293.26
: 250.76 :
S493.44
19.17a:
S86.63 :
S80.92 :
88.56
73.12 :
S59.79 :
13.29 :
171.53 :

Total growing cost . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking expense . . .
Grading and packing expense . .
Containers . . .
Hauling . . . .
Selling . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost. .

Total crop cost. . . .
Crop sales . . . .
Net return. . .. . .

. :1081.34 : 1755.97 : $ 2.248

: 274.51
: 507.74
: 217.68
: 62.09
: 74.85

348.66
814.21
408.63
111.83
88.26

. .. :1136.87 : 1771.59 :

:2218.21
:2808.27
: 590.06

3527.56
4217.07
689.51

.447
1.043
.523
.143
.113

2.269

: 4.517
S5.400
: $ 0.883

1974-75 range per acre
From To
Yield (30 lb.) . . . . : .393 : 1376
Total growing cost . . . .... .. :$1142.25 : $2914.41
Total harvesting and marketing cost . ... : 910.52 : 3264.07
Total crop cost. . . .. ....... : 2052.77 : 5754.34
Crop sales . . . . . : 1967.18 : 8166.36
Net return . . . . ... . :$-188.59 : $2412.02

30 lb.

I I f f

Table 27.--WATERMELONS: Costs and returns in the Immokalee-Lee area
5 season average 1970-74 and 1974-75

Item :5-season: 1974-75
:____average :

Number of growers
Number of acres .
Average acres per
Average yield per

Growing costs:

Land rent . .
Seed. . .
Fertilizer. .
Spray and dust. .
Cultural labor. .
Machine hire. .
Gas, oil and grease
Repair and maintenan
Depreciation. .
Licenses and insuran
Interest on product
Interest on capital
Miscellaneous expense

: 6
: 810
: 135
: 191

grower. .
acre (cwt.)

Av
Acre
. . . . :$ 18.18 :
. . . . : 8.47
. . . . : 123.94 :
. . . . : 77.51
. . . : 119.07
. . . . : 36.34 :
. . . . : 17.21 :
ce. . . : 39.98 :
. . . . : 27.33 :
ce. . ..... : 11.99 :
on capital (9% 5 months): 17.66
invested (other than land): 4.10
e . . . : 18.33

Total growing cost. . . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Cutting expense . . .
Packing expense . . .
Containers. . . . .
Hauling . . . .
Selling . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost

Total crop cost . . .
Crop sales . . . .
Net return . . . .

. .. 520.11 : 623.53 :$ 2.173

52.69
46.53
22.59
78.83
47.33

. : 247.97 :

768.08
753.14
-14.94

84.44
64.90
14.95
116.88
71.75

.294
.226
.052
.407
.250

352.92 : 1.229

976.45
1513.30
536.85

: 3.402
: 5.273
: 1.871

1974-75 range per acre
From To

Yield (cwt.) . . . . . 49 400
Total growing cost . ... .. ..:$ 521.68 :$ 737.05
Total harvesting and marketing cost . ... .: 56.35 : 500.00
Total crop cost . . .... ... .: 629.88 :1197.05
Crop sales. . . . .... . : 196.80 : 2600.00
Net return . .... . . .. .:$-433.08 :$ 1402.95

Food & Resource Economics -- 1500
DLB:jc

cwt.

erage per
Acre
$ 23.87
8.69
196.03
101.82
125.98
28.67
28.25
27.34
29.21
14.58
21.32
4.38
13.39

This public document was promulgated at an annual cost of $2110.00 or
$1.46 per copy to furnish the vegetable industry and allied suppliers
with current information on costs and returns for vegetable crops in
Florida.

L

	Front Cover
	Abstract
	Foreword
	Acknowledgements
	Table of Contents
	Map
	Definitions
	Main