D. L.

Economic Information
Report 127

Costs and Returns from
Vegetable Crops in Florida,
Season 1978-79
with Comparisons

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

March 1980

Brooke

ABSTRACT

Costs and returns were obtained for 14 different vegetable crops in
one or more of eight major producing areas for the 1978-79 season. Yields
were generally better than a year earlier, a result of better weather.
Production cost increases were noted in only about one-half of the crops
and areas as compared to three-fourths a year earlier. Increases in har-
vest costs were evident in 85 percent of the cases in 1978-79. FOB prices
were higher than a year earlier in three-fifths of the cases but net returns
to growers were improved in only two-fifths of the crops and areas.

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

I

FOREWORD

This is the nineteenth 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
records were not kept. As complete a breakdown of costs as possible
was obtained from each grower. Insofar as possible, growing and har-
vesting 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
worthwhile assistance.

I

FOREWORD

This is the nineteenth 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
records were not kept. As complete a breakdown of costs as possible
was obtained from each grower. Insofar as possible, growing and har-
vesting 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
worthwhile assistance.

I

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . .... .. * 1

MAP OF FLORIDA VEGETABLE PRODUCING AREAS. .. . ... iv

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

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

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 SNAP BEANS: Costs and returns per acre in the Palm Beach-
Broward area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 .. . 1

2 POLE BEANS: Costs and returns per acre in the Dade County
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . . .. 2

3 CABBAGE: Costs and returns per acre in the Hastings area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 ...... .. .. 3

4 CELERY: Costs and returns per acre in the Central Florida
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 .. . 4

5 CELERY: Costs and returns per acre in the Everglades area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 ...... .. ...... 5

6 SWEET CORN: Costs and returns per acre in the Central
Florida area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . 6

7 SWEET CORN: Costs and returns per acre in the Everglades
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 .. . 7

8 SWEET CORN: Costs and returns per acre in the Lower East
Coast area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . 8

9 CUCUMBERS: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-Lee
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 ....... 9

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

LIST OF TABLES--Continued

Table Page

10 EGGPLANT: Costs and returns per acre in the Palm Beach-
Broward area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . .. 10

11 LEAF CROPS: Costs and returns per acre in the Central Florida
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . ... 11

12 LEAF CROPS: Costs and returns per acre in the Everglades area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . . .... 12

13 PEPPERS: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-Lee area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . . ... 13

14 PEPPERS: Costs and returns per acre in the Palm Beach-Broward
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . .. .. 14

15 IRISH POTATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Dade County
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . .. 15

16 IRISH POTATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Hastings
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 .... ..... 16

17 RADISHES: Costs and returns per acre in the Everglades area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . . . 17

18 SQUASH: Costs and returns per acre in the Dade County area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . .... 18

19 SQUASH: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-Lee area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . .... . 19

20 SQUASH: Costs and returns per acre in the Palm Beach-Broward
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 .. . 20

21 TOMATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Dade County area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . ... . 21

22 STAKED TOMATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-
Lee area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 ... 22

23 STAKED TOMATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Manatee-
Ruskin area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 . 23

24 WATERMELONS: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-Lee
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79 .. .. 24

,,y V G EAI BI PR ODUl ARA -",. .

FL AO I DA / l ..

VEGETABLE PRODUCING AREAS j ''

With Principal Vegetables Produced Ad' .i \'

1 Dade-tomatoes, snap and pole beans, Irish
potatoes, squash, cucumbers, strawberries NANC' Ot f"
2 Palm Beach-Broward--snap beans, peppers .!..- 0
eggplant, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes PC .
3 Immokalee-Lee--tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, w
squash, Irish potatoes, watermelons
4 Everglades--snap beans, wee sswt c cabbage,
escarole, radishes /s p-- -Oa* i
5 Fort Pierce--tomatoes, watermelons I
6 Wauchula--cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons i

8 Manatee-Ruskin--tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, 6"ao' j-_.."

pole beans, southern peas, okra D 1
10 Sumter--cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce,' w" oo
watermelons Lo- o -
11 Zellwood--sweet corn, celery, escarole, lettuce, 2
snap beans, radishes -----
12 Sanford-Oviedo--cabbage, celery, snap beans, lettuce,
escarole, sweet corn, peppers
13 Oxford-Belleview-Lowell--tomatoes, watermelons i1
14 McIntosh-Island Grove--squash, snap beans, celery,
cabbage, lettuce, watermelons
15. Alachua--snap beans, cucumbers, pepper, Irish o
potatoes, watermelons
16 Hastings--Irish potatoes, cabbage 0o "'
17 Starke-Brooker-Lake Bulter--snap and lima beans,
cucumbers, peppers, squash, strawberries
18 Quincy-Havana--pole beans, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes
19 Excambia--Irish potatoes

DEFINITIONS

Number of growers: Number of individual records or estimates of 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. Taxes 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 value 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
production 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 ob-
servations 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 encountered in vegetable production.

Table l.--SNAP BEANS: Costs and returns per acra in the Palm Beach-Broward
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item

1978-79
a_: average :

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

6
6216
1036
74

7530
1506
74

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 .

. . . .

capitall (9% 4 monts.
sted (other than .land). :

Acre
60,60

60.25
34.85
57,58
12.58
16.92
20.70

12. 67
8.95
2,07
8.16

Average per
Acre Bushel
:$ 53.48 :
32.94 :
: 53.90 :
: 56.67 :
78.73 :
a
8.80 :
16.93 :
26.76 :
12.26 :
18.01
10.80
1.84
13.71

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 ......

: 323,22 : 384.83 :$ 5.200

79.93
51.62
10.73
13.98

82.12 :
67.70 :
14.74 :
18.17 :

. : 156,26 : 182.73 : 2.470

: 47.48
: 469.32
:$-10,.16

: 567.56 :
: 573.57 :
:$ 6.01 :$

i979.-7 Range per ac-r
From T.

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

. : 63
: 310 43:$
. : 63.80:
. 477.49:
. . : 472.50:
. :$ -68.50:$

aReported by 4 growers averaging $11.00 p;r acre-

1.110
.915
.199
.246

7.670
7.751
7701

85
569.50
207.24
776.74
708.24
104.48

~-------~--~

------------- ---------------~---~-- I
" ~~~~-~`----

I I 1 1 1

f j : j I

Table 2.--POLE BEANS: Costs and returns per acre in the Dade County area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

6
1824
304
280

6
1992
332
274

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
:$ 49.50
59.55
:107.69
75.82
:336.47
11.05
31.32
44.80
26.07
42.41
25.07
3.91
77.13

Average per
Acre Bushel
:$110.10 :
70.47
99.52 :
:132.17 :
:365.46 :
18.40 :
46.04 :
68.28 :
47.21 :
85.59 :
33.39 :
7.08 :
116.91 :

: 890.79 :1200.62 :$4.382

243.67
205.20
41.61
63.66

296.90
256.05
54.87
72.99

1.084
.935
.200
.266

. : 554.14 : 680.81 : 2.485

:1444.93
:1591.66
:$146.73

:1881.43
:2207.46
:$326.03

: 6.867
: 8.057
:$1.190

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . . : 236 : 300
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 963.49 :$1470.46
Total harvesting and marketing cost . .. : 591.32 : 756.00
Total crop cost . . . . : 1627.60 : 2144.06
Crop sales . . . . ... : 1999.40 : 2514.29
Net return . . . . ... :$ -.74 :$ 678.73

Table 3.--CABBAGE: Costs and returns per acre in the Hastings area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

Number of growers . .
Number of acres . . .
Average acres per grower .
Average yield per acre (50-1bs.)

11
1595
145
488

12
2037
170
450

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:

Cutting and packing expense . .
Containers . . . .
Hauling . . . .
Selling . . . .
Total harvesting and marketing cost .

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

Acre
:$ 37.10
69.99
S105.41
54.26
S128.44
4.61
25.69
38.36
32.88
21.57
14.79
4.93
7.66

Average per
Acre 50-1bs.
:$ 43.80 :
82.64
96.56 :
72.94 :
:173.03 :
1.85a:
37.35
57.22
42.67 :
29.45 :
18.08 :
6.41 :
7.95 :

: 545.69 : 669.95 :$1.489

182.91
327.62
.33
110.12

231.64
383.38

119.45

: .515
: .852

:.265

. : 620.98 : 734.47 : 1.632

:1166.67
:1550.58
:$383.91

:1404.42
:1965.84
:$561.42

: 3.121
: 4.369
:$1.248

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (50-1bs.) . . . . .. : 310 : 651
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 459.35 :$1348.54
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 537.91 : 1051.76
Total crop cost . . . .... : 997.26 : 2400.30
Crop sales . . . . ... : 1233.13 : 2771.89
Net return . . . . ... :$ 73.02 :$1129.52

aReported by 5 growers averaging $4.44 per acre.

Table 4.--CELERY: Costs and returns per acre in the Central Florida area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

3
1509
503
507

3
1407
469
534

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 (othe
Miscellaneous expense . .
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 . . . .

Acre
. . :$ 36.71
. . : 89.14
S. . : 136.23
S. . : 156.94
. . : 313.22
. . : 7.44
. . : 24.49
. . : 80.61
. . : 27.16
. . : 36.79
- 5 months). : 34.61
r than land). : 4.07
. ... : 41.27

Average per
Acre Crate
:$ 52.20 :
: 127.40 :
: 151.51 :
: 173.87 :
: 330.35 :
21.99a:
30.52 :
: 113.47 :
41.36 :
70.30 :
44.56 :
6.20 :
: 116.51 :

: 988.68 : 1280.24 :$2.398

615.10
391.84
57.85
206.28
85.12

:1356.19
:2344.87
:2703.41
:$358.54

911.86
434.88
83.93
162.56
126.40

1.708
.814
.157
.304
.237

: 1719.63 : 3.220

: 2999.87
: 4159.49
:$1159.62

: 5.618
: 7.790
:$2.172

1978-79 Range per acre
From To
Yield (crates) . . . ... : 518 : 545
Total growing cost . ... . .. :$ 1168.29 :$ 1366.02
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 1372.69 : 2016.31
Total crop cost . . . . : 2540.98 : 3322.73
Crop sales . . . ... : 3635.63 : 4458.79
Net return . . . .... ... :$ 499.72 :$ 1917.81

aReported by 1 grower at $21.99 per acre.

j i i i

.......

Table 5.--CELERY: Costs and returns per acre in the Everglades area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

: 9
S 8163
: 907
: 586

7
8450
1207
659

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
. . . :$ 64.32
. . . : 100.53
. . . : 151.42
. . . : 349.36
. . . : 365.11
. . . : 25.86
. . . : 42.24
. . : 115.96
. . . : 50.94
. . . : 45.37
capitall (9% 5 months). : 48.64
!sted (other than land). : 7.64
. . . : 37.03

Average per
Acre Crate
:$ 88.63 :
:102.50 :
:153.79 :
:334.61 :
: 403.00 :
26.30a
47.07 :
:130.42 :
64.11 :
79.61 :
54.07
9.61
75.82

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 . . . .

. . :1404.42 :1569.54 :$2.382

: 575.13
: 460.22
:81.35
:243.83
91.06

859.59
590.80
121.81
339.36
133.69

: 1.304
:.896
:.185
:.515
: .203

. . :1451.59 :2045.25 : 3.103

:2856.01
:3024.81
:$168.80

:3614.79
:4292.53
:$677.74

: 5.485
: 6.514
:$1.029

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

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

538 : 797
. :$1278.64 :$1910.67
: 1550.63 : 2479.48
: 3029.96 : 4173.43
: 3171.22 : 5215.61
. :$ -49.47 :$1994.25

aReported by 6 growers averaging $30.68 per acre.

6

Table 6.--SWEET CORN: Costs and returns per acre in the Central Florida area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

:5-season:
Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

4
3528
882
292

5
4060
812
293

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
. . :$ 36.47
. . : 17.27
. . : 52.72
. . : 91.84
. . : 53.69
. . : 10.55
. . : 13.79
. . : 55.97
. . : 19.74
. . : 25.04
capital (9% 4 months): 11.42
sted (other than land): 2.96
. . . : 23.47

Average per
Acre Crate
:$ 48.65 :
20.33 :
60.86 :
: 103.99 :
58.84 :
15.51a:
20.42
57.63
21.68
24.73
13.75
3.25
47.26

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 . . . .

.. : 414.93 :

... : 162.34 :
S. 188.12
27.24 :
97.78
45.79 :
: 521.27 :

: 936.20
:1003.34
:$ 67.14

496.90 :$1.696

203.76
249.34
31.26
101.88
56.16

.695
.851
.107
.348
.192

642.40 : 2.193

: 1139.30
: 1008.45
:$-130.85

: 3.889
: 3.442
:$-.447

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (crates) . . . ... : 276 333
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 415.92 :$ 637.12
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 434.64 : 786.48
Total crop cost . . . . : 1022.97 : 1287.16
Crop sales . . . .... .. : 822.09 : 1110.83
Net return . . . .... .. :$ -254.22 :$ 39.07

aReported by 3 growers averaging $25.85 per acre.

Table 7.--SWEET CORN: Costs and returns per acre in the Everglades area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

:5-season:
Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

: 10
: 14330
1433
: 204

7
9724
1389
176

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 . . . .

Total harvesting and marketing cost

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

Acre
38.27
15.65
33.36
84.31
49.44
17.56
13.13
29.86
19.49
14.77
9.19
2.93
10.08

. : 338.04

127.91
138.19
25.56
81.43
32.16

. : 405.25 :

: 743.29
: 715.90
:$-27.39

Average per
Acre Crate
:$ 55.74 :
20.38 :
S 43.51:
:104.44 :
57.67 :
S 21.88 :
18.16 :
39.89 :
24.73 :
28.28
S 12.29 :
S 3.71:
S 19.80 :

: 450.48 :$ 2.560

159.11
162.58
33.42
82.08
33.57

.904
.924
.190
.466
.191

470.76 : 2.675

:921.24
S654.65
:$-266.59

: 5.235
: 3.720
:$-1.515

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (crates) . . . . . : 56 228
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 359.45 :$ 566.31
Total harvesting and marketing cost ..... .: 217.23 : 606.48
Total crop cost . .. . . : 733.34 : 1118.34
Crop sales . . .... ..... : 293.43 : 1082.47
Net return . . . .... .. .. :$-612.55 :$ -35.87

8

Table 8.--SWEET CORN: Costs and returns per acre in the Lower East Coast area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

4
6236
1559
173

5
5017
1003
208

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
. . . :$ 44.20
. . . : 19.81
. . : 104.83
. . : 64.71
. . : 57.23
. . : 18.65
. . : 16.65
. . : 28.25
. . : 18.56
. . : 17.71
capitall (9% 4 months). : 11.47
*sted (other than land). : 2.78
. . . : 10.08

Average per
Acre
:$ 78.50
34.12
:107.58
:125.94
69.10
16.14
25.68
43.65
22.10
26.36
16.41
3.31
19.69

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 . . . .

..... : 414.93 : 588.58 :$2.830

99.65
110.37
25.01
67.10
25.32

129.04
161.64
40.72
117.46
35.41

.620
.777
.196
.565
.170

. . : 327.45 : 484.27 : 2.328

: 742.38
: 769.91
:$ 27.53

:1072.85
:1132.51
:$ 59.66

: 5.158
: 5.445
:$ .287

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (crates) . . . . : 139 : 234
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 460.73 :$ 650.98
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 340.55 : 567.37
Total crop cost . . . . : 950.50 : 1168.58
Crop sales . . . . ... : 535.21 : 1380.00
Net return . . . . ... :$-456.32 :$ 225.20

Crate

Table 9.--CUCUMBERS: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-Lee area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

6
605
101
382

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 costs:

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

Total harvesting and marketing cost .

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

Average per
Acre Acre Bushel
. . :$ 30.39 :$ 50.43 :
. . : 16.39 : 19.75 :
. . : 158.78 : 172.08 :
. . 78.20 : 100.83 :
. . 188.76 : 230.04 :
. . 32.73 : 37.74 :
. . 46.32 : 53.62 :
. . 51.54 : 58.50 :
. . 40.48 : 40.14 :
. . 25.51 : 58.37
4 months). : 24.45 : 30.29 :
than land). : 6.07 : 6.02 :
. : 23.40 : 26.38 :

. . : 723.02 : 884.19 :$2.315

261.66
228.44
176.38
49.50
45.61

467.59
284.20
276.41
66.40
92.49

: 1.224
: .744
: .723
: .174
: .242

. .. : 761.59 :1187.09 : 3.107

:1484.61
:1502.49
:$ 17.88

:2071.28
:2300.36
:$229.08

: 5.422
: 6.022
:$ .600

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . . : 189 : 662
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 689.69 :$ 1111.46
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 608.96 : 2173.67
Total crop cost . . . . : 1391.71 : 3234.35
Crop sales . . . . ... : 976.48 : 4514.84
Net return . . . . ... .. :$-415.23 :$ 1280.49

10

Table 10.--EGGPLANT: Costs and returns per acre in the Palm Beach-Broward
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

5
390
78
700

4
455
114
835

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 . . . .

Acre
:$ 55.81
22.61
:271.42
:192.69
:419.74
55.72
64.21
90.97
60.38
65.70
49.43
9.06
78.66

Average per
Acre Bushel
:$ 93.75 :
:76.57
: 254.76 :
: 247.96
: 527.33
:31.28a:
:82.60
:96.29
:48.27
:97.90
:65.51
7.24
:238.60

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 . . . .

. .. :1436.40 :1868.06 :$2.237

: 447.32
: 398.13
: 100.93
: 124.13

748.39
542.04
146.72
208.81

.896
.649
.176
.250

. .. :1070.51 :1645.96 : 1.971

:2506.91
:2489.23
:$-17.68

:3514.02
:3610.55
:$ 96.53

: 4.208
: 4.324
:$ .116

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . . ... : 700 : 1000
Total growing cost . . . . :$1702.25 :$ 1986.00
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 1256.50 : 2253.60
Total crop cost . . . . : 3238.98 : 3955.85
Crop sales . . . . ... : 3150.00 : 4250.00
Net return . . . . ... :$ -92.50 :$ 294.15

Reported by 3 growers averaging $41.71 per acre.

Table 11.--LEAF CROPS: Costs and returns per acre in the Central Florida
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

5
1010 :
202
639

5
1113
223
634

Growing costs:
Acre
Land rent . . . . :$ 35.38
Seed . . . . : 75.76
Fertilizer . . . . .. : 56.20
Spray and dust . . . .. : 67.44
Cultural labor . . . ... : 166.92
Machine hire . . . .. : 2.25
Gas, oil and grease . . ... : 19.87
Repair and maintenance . . ... : 81.37
Depreciation . . . .. : 36.61
Licenses and insurance . . ... : 52.49
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months). : 18.19
Interest on capital invested (other than land). : 5.49
Miscellaneous expense . . ... : 48.80

Average per
Acre Crate
:$ 51.96 :
82.34 :
56.55 :
72.51 :
:209.05

24.05 :
79.66
35.21:
53.90 :
20.59 :
5.28 :
56.59 :

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 . . . .

. . : 666.77 : 747.69 :$1.179

218.82
412.56
50.47
162.04
81.38

284.21
494.74
43.07
187.22
74.23

: .448
: .780
: .068
S .296
: .117

. . : 925.27 :1083.47 : 1.709

:1592.04
:2316.16
:$724.12

:1831.16
:2558.00
:$726.84

: 2.888
: 4.035
:$1.147

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (crates) . . . . .. : 405 : 817
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 557.14 :$ 880.57
Total harvesting and marketing cost . .... : 793.39 : 1249.48
Total crop cost . . . . ... : 1514.41 : 2130.05
Crop sales . . . . ... .. .: 1942.66 : 3355.88
Net return . . . . ... :$ 189.63 :$ 1351.68

I i I i I

Table 12.--LEAF CROPS: Costs and returns per acre in the Everglades area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

. . . : 8 :
. . . : 6216 :
. . : 777 :
. . . : 421 :

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
Interest on capital invested (other thai
Miscellaneous expense . . .
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 . . . .

Acre
:$ 45.17
: 11.15
: 68.59
: 63.13
.. : 180.44
: 19.49
: 21.65
: 50.64
. : 30.77
: 21.36
months). : 15.07
n land). : 4.62
: 20.71

Average per
Acre
:$ 65.93 :
: 20.49 :
: 107.60 :
: 105.01:
: 192.88 :
:34.21a
:20.61
:49.19
24.16
31.09
19.69
3.62
29.26

. : 552.79 : 703.74 :$1.923

206.51
288.93
57.43
160.34
70.25

249.03
274.02
64.31
170.32
69.91

: 783.46 : 827.59 : 2.261

:1336.25
:1581.27
:$245.02

:1531.33
:1716.57
:$185.24

: 4.184
: 4.690
:$ .506

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (crates) . . . . .. : 141 : 485
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 477.66 :$1464.57
Total harvesting and marketing cost . ... : 307.47 : 1045.78
Total crop cost . . . . ... : 918.95 : 2510.35
Crop sales . . . . ... .. .: 663.38 : 3219.70
Net return . . . . ... :$-393.62 :$ 709.35

aReported by 6 growers averaging $45.62 per acre.

8
6411
801
366

Crate

.680
.749
.176
.465
.191

Table 13.--PEPPERS: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-Lee area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: 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 (other
Miscellaneous expense . .

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 . . . .

11
2222
202
599

Acre
. :$ 33.63
: 88.80
. : 263.95
. : 232.75
. : 405.99
. : 48.31
. : 81.36
. : 136.98
. : 73.14
: 50.72
- 5 months). : 54.04
than land). : 10.97
. : 98.64

11
2065
188
684

Average per
Acre Bushel
:$ 68.31 :
88.96
:241.64 :
:287.23 :
:446.27 :
44.82a:
:106.61:
:173.01 :
87.04 :
:103.59 :
66.90 :
13.06 :
:223.43 :

. . :1579.28 :1950.87 :$2.852

... : 360.22
... : 462.05
... : 293.41
... : 100.88
. .. : 108.59
. .. :1325.15
. :2904.43
S. :3201.11
S. :$296.68

: 528.56 :
: 598.40 :
: 369.20 :
: 142.00 :
: 158.96 :

.773
.875
.540
.208
.232

:1797.12 : 2.628
:3747.99 : 5.480
:3793.03 : 5.545
:$ 45.04 :$ .065

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . .... : 400 977
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 1253.42 :$3185.48
Total harvesting and marketing cost . ... : 892.00 : 2741.46
Total crop cost . . ......... i. 2405.75 : 5190.73
Crop sales . . . .. : 2400.00 : 6132.12
Net return . . . .. .. .:$-1500.83 :$1551.58

aReported by 9 growers averaging $54.78 per acre.

Table 14.--PEPPERS: Costs and returns per acre in the Palm Beach-Broward
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

9 :
1134 :
126 :
707

10
1981
198
834

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 . . . .

Avi
Acre
:$ 61.39 :$
74.15 :
:229.62 :
:217.88 :
:566.72 :
92.44 :
85.24 :
:102.70 :
67.19 :
90.45 :
63.94 :
10.08 :
:183.17 :

erage per
Acre Bushel
95.20
96.32
208.48
387.56
624.78
63.61
95.24
120.39
53.01
120.32
76.38
7.95
224.88

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 . . . .

. . :1844.97 : 2174.12 :$2.607

: 481.26 :
: 338.43 :
: 110.87 :
: 139.60 :

836.77
410.95
161.73
201.76

: 1.003
:.493
:.194
:.242

. :1070.16 : 1611.21 : 1.932

S. . :2915.13 : 3785.33 : 4.539
S. . :3704.54 : 4812.82 : 5.771
S. . :$789.41 :$1027.49 :$1.232

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . .... : 315 1166
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 1414.01 :$ 3060.39
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 617.40 : 2208.91
Total crop cost . . . . : 2031.41 : 5092.50
Crop sales . . . . ... : 1700.75 : 7377.34
Net return . . . ...... . :$ -330.66 :$ 2381.50

15

Table 15.--IRISH POTATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Dade County
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
Item average:

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

8 :
5112 :
639
178 :

5
4055
811
167

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
Interest on capital invested (
Miscellaneous expense .

Total growing cost . .

Harvesting marketing costs:

Acre
. . . :$ 65.38
. . : 208.26
. . : 92.98
. . : 86.83
. . : 94.71
. . : 4.73
. . : 18.12
. . : 37.47
. . : 31.05
. . : 39.20
(9% 4 months). : 20.09
other than land). : 4.66
. . . : 21.91

. . : 725.39 :

Average per
Acre
:$ 80.26
: 236.54 :
: 104.71 :
: 142.98 :
97.14 :
13.52 :
30.76 :
64.04 :
38.37 :
60.92
25.52 :
5.76 :
19.81:

920.33 :$ 5.511

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

Total harvesting and marketing cost .

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

34.12
151.25
51.66
30.54
46.04

36.81
181.59
63.97
35.21
47.82

.221
1.087
.383
.211
.286

. .. : 313.61 : 365.40 : 2.188

:1039.00
:1352.32
:$313.32

: 1285.73
: 1095.52
:$-190.21

:7.699
:6.560
:$-1.139

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (cwt.) . . .... . .. : 135 : 205
Total growing cost . . ... .. .. :$ 709.27 :$1095.44
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 276.97 : 451.82
Total crop cost . . .... . .. : 986.24 : 1401.67
Crop sales . . . . . : 862.71 : 1312.91
Net return . . . . . :$-453.27 :$ 98.36

Cwt.

. . . :
. . . :
. . . :
. . . :

Table 16.--IRISH POTATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Hastings area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

. . : 16
. . : 4432
. . : 277
. . : 192

19
5605
295
233

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
. . :$ 41.52
. . . : 158.69
. . . : 115.54
. . . : 50.63
. . . : 66.00
. . . : 6.96
. . . : 23.93
. . . : 48.75
. . . : 35.68
. . . : 19.45
capital (9% 4 months). : 16.26
sted (other than land). : 5.35
. . . : 10.42

Average per
Acre
:$ 45.73 :
: 168.81:
: 110.77 :
:62.25 :
:72.12 :
:10.02 :
:32.40 :
:53.78 :
:40.94 :
:33.10 :
:18.06 :
6.14
13.00 :

Total growing cost . . . : 599.18 : 667.12 :$2.863
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 . . . .

. : 38.95
. : 59.90
. : 12.06
. : 33.42
. : 49.80
. . : 194.13
. .. : 793.31
. . : 941.13
. . :$147.82

49.57 :
78.81 :
18.45a:
45.30 :
67.48 :

.213
.338
.079
.194
.290

: 259.61 : 1.114
: 926.73 : 3.977
: 931.47 : 3.998
:$ 4.74 :$ .021

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (cwt.) . . . .... .. : 163 : 340
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 441.10 :$ 948.20
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 171.51 : 537.49
Total crop cost ... . . . . : 680.18 : 1485.69
Crop sales . . . . ... : 571.12 : 1380.57
Net return . . . . ... :$-429.51 :$ 644.82

aReported by 9 growers averaging $38.94 per acre.

Cwt.

17

Table 17.--RADISHES: Costs and returns per acre in the Everglades area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

3 :
9948 :
3316 :
239 :

3
12629
4210
218

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 . . . .

Average per
Acre Acre 30-6 oz.
11.50 :$ 23.34 :

12.82 :
14.51:
17.15 :
29.22 :
3.72 :
7.70 :
19.03 :
8.78 :
6.78 :
1.89 :
1.32 :
3.72 :

20.35 :
25.62
21.61 :
36.11
3.07a
11.80
27.44
10.49
15.11
2.90
1.57
9.11

Total growing cost . . . : 138.14 : 208.52 :$ .956
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 . . . .

17.49 :
95.77 :
76.73 :
9.81 :
31.02 :

25.58
125.78
87.57
16.65
27.14

.118
.577
.402
.076
.124

... : 230.82 : 282.72 : 1.297
... : 368.96 : 491.24 : 2.253
... : 428.60 : 474.15 : 2.175
.. .. :$ 59.64 :$-17.09 :$-.078

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (30-6 oz.) . . . . : 197 : 252
Total growing cost . . . .... :$ 150.53 :$ 264.09
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 174.64 : 394.98
Total crop cost . . . .... ... : 325.17 : 659.07
Crop sales . . . . ... ... : 378.90 : 581.50
Net return ...... ... .. :. ..$-110.56 :$ 136.87

aReported by 1 grower at $9.20 per acre.

18

Table 18.--SQUASH: Costs and returns per acre in the Dade County area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

5
1080 :
216 :
141:

5
1565
313
187

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
:$ 40.99
30.55
78.90
:72.55
:70.46
:18.20
:28.86
:42.83
24.76
:33.80
:12.85
3.71
11.25

Average per
Acre Bushel
:$ 72.83 :
:94.20 :
:86.96 :
:77.66 :
:74.83 :
:13.77 :
:36.45 :
:57.28 :
:34.81:
:51.39 :
:17.68 :
5.22 :
23.94

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 . . . .

. . : 469.71 : 647.02

210.45
110.29
20.98
33.96

338.51
166.86
36.12
54.36

:$3.460

: 1.810
:.892
:.193
:.291

. .. : 375.68 : 595.85 : 3.186

: 845.39
: 871.43
:$ 26.04

:1242.87
:1355.04
:$112.17

: 6.646
: 7.246
:$ .600

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . . : 166 : 200
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 561.85 :$ 940.38
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 453.38 : '704.00
Total crop cost . . . . : 1131.96 : 1393.76
Crop sales . . . . ... : 1205.21 : 1440.00
Net return . . . . ... .. :$-188.55 :$ 275.65

Table 19.--SQUASH: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-Lee area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

6
1158
193
214

4
643
161
178

Growing costs:
Acre
Land rent . . . . :$ 27.78
Seed. . . . .... .. .. : 24.48
Fertilizer . . . ... : 134.94
Spray and dust . . . . : 56.16
Cultural labor . .. . .. .: 87.88
Machine hire . . . . : 15.77
Gas, oil and grease . . . : 33.04
Repair and maintenance . . . : 28.99
Depreciation r. . . . . : 28.56
Licenses and insurance ............ : 21.12
Interest on production capital (9% 4 months). : 13.27
Interest on capital invested (other than land). : 4.29
Miscellaneous expense . . . : 12.09

Total growing cost . . . .

Average per
Acre Bushel
:$ 43.32 :
29.24 :
: 128.>4 :
: 68.75 :
: 105.73 :
20.65 :
40.62 :
33.34 :
S 2.02 :
: 40.83 :
15.93 :
3.90 :
20.19 :

: 488.37 : 576.96 :$3.241

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 . . .

142.42
148.08
139.71
54.48
46.55

220.01
128.07
181.20
37.60
81.25

: 531.24 : 648.13 : 3.641

. . :1019.61
S. . :1268.33
. . :$248.72

:1225.09
:1475.95
:$250.86

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . . : 128 : 221
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 526.42 :$ 701.84
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 364.72 : 844.66
Total crop cost . . . . : 911.49 : 1472.48
Crop sales . . . . . : 959.30 : 1934.37
Net return . . . .... .. .. :$ 47.81 :$ 563.29

1.236
.720
1.018
.211
.456

: 6.882
: 8.292
:$1.410

Table 20.--SQUASH: Costs and returns per acre in the Palm Beach-Broward area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

4
196
49
116

3
65
22
124

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
44.61
19.21
74.62
52.58
80.57
25.45
28.54
34.71
28.73
23.64
11.91
4.24
12.90

Average per
Acre Bushel
:$ 75.42 :
:15.17 :
:65.83 :
:85.00 :
:97.18
7.76a
:23.26
36.66
19.68
15.32
12.86
2.95
6.89

Total growing cost . . . : 441.71 : 463.98 :$3.742

Harvesting and marketing costs:
Picking and packing expense . . : 177.89 : 178.17 : 1.437
Containers . . . . : 98.79 : 115.90 : .935
Hauling . . . .... ... : 21.38 : 26.20 : .211
Selling . . . .... ... : 28.71 : 32.75 : .264

Total harvesting and marketing cost .
Total crop cost . .. . .
Crop sales . . . .
Net return . . . .

. .. : 326.77
. : 768.48
. : 764.30
. . :$ -4.18

: 353.02 : 2.847

: 817.00
: 984.08
:$167.08

: 6.589
: 7.936
:$1.347

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (bushels) . . . .... : 73 200
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 381.53 :$ 514.05
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 208.05 : 570.00
Total crop cost . . . .... ... : 662.53 : 1084.05
Crop sales . . . .... ... : 602.25 : 1600.00
Net return . . . .... ... :$-102.16 :$ 515.95

aReported by 1 grower at $23.27 per acre.

Table 21.--TOMATOES: Costs and returns per acre'in the Dade County area.
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

:5-season:
Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

6 :
4104 :
684
564

4
3072
768
628

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 . . . .

Acre
:$ 45.27
28.99
:246.44
:304.23
:256.90
21.00
43.68
79.41
56.05
44.00
44.69
8.40
:121.70

Average per
Acre 30 Ibs.
:$ 76.12 :
44.01 :
:194.28 :
:430.61 :
:454.49
25.74
65.38 :
:107.64
72.19
76.59
66.01
10.83 :
:285.33 :

Total growing cost . .... . .. :1300.76 :1909.22 :$3.040

Harvesting and marketing costs:

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

: 327.13
: 538.32
: 294.71
:66.86
:82.28

367.54
666.38
347.37
147.87
147.90

.585
1.061
.553
.236
.236

Total harvesting and marketing cost .

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

. . :1309.30 :1677.06 : 2.671

. . :2610.06 :3586.28 : 5.711
S. . :2918.07 :4146.03 : 6.602
S. . :$308.01 :$559.75 :$ .891

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (30 lbs.) . . . . ... .: 369 739
Total growing cost . ... . .. :$1786.67 :$2099.77
Total harvesting and marketing cost . .. : 1014.36 : 2070.19
Total crop cost . ... .. . : 3114.13 : 3856.86
Crop sales . . . . ... .. : 2396.54 : 4949.84
Net return . . ... .. . .. :$-717.59 :$1092.98

22

Table 22.--STAKED TOMATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-Lee
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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 tl
Miscellaneous expense . .

14 :
4074 :
291
857 :

Acre
... :$ 44.59
: 89.09
... : 254.17
. : 346.70
.. .. : 693.45
: 77.86
.. : 94.35
... : 131.27
.. : 95.04
.. : 64.46
5 months). : 75.51
han land). : 14.26
. : 217.60

11
3531
321
894

Average per
Acre 30 lbs.
:$ 77.82
: 120.39
: 253.18
: 438.42
: 749.62
:50.80a:
: 103.19 :
: 179.40 :
: 122.07 :
: 106.99 :
87.64 :
18.31 :
:257.27 :

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 . . . .

. .. :2198.35 :2565.10 :$2.869

: 500.26
: 805.07
: 416.58
: 130.89
: 123.54

: 570.31
: 903.77
: 465.71
: 171.77
: 164.23

: .638
: 1.011
:.521
:.192
:.184

. .. :1976.34 :2275.79 : 2.546

:4174.69
:4656.25
:$481.56

:4840.89
:5257.44
:$416.55

: 5.415
: 5.881
:$ .466

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (30 lbs.) . . . . ... : 425 : 1347
Total growing cost . . . .. :$ 1962.94 :$ 3062.02
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 999.47 : 3368.00
Total crop cost . . . . : 3089.19 : 6031.89
Crop sales . . . . ... : 2338.30 : 7867.35
Net return . . . . .. :$-1553.22 :$ 1835.46

aReported by 8 growers averaging $69.85 per acre.

Table 23.--STAKED TOMATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Manatee-Ruskin
area 5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item :5-season: 1978-79
: average:

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

. . : 12
. . : 2220
. . : 185
. . : 751

Growing costs:

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

Acre
:$ 47.47
80.29
:229.99
:238.03
:500.28
21.65
81.37
92.43
84.01
75.46
57.34
12.60
:161.96

Average per
Acre 30 lbs.
:$ 53.24
: 93.5P
: 181.44
:228.75
:491.31
37.05a:
99.25 :
:127.82 :
:119.44 :
:111.32
60.05 :
17.92 :
:177.48 :

:1682.88 :1798.65 :$2.336

: 368.49
: 766.94
: 390.61
: 109.86
: 95.24

: 537.21
: 891.46
: 404.60
: 143.15
: 110.90

:.698
: 1.158
:.525
:.186
:.144

. . :1731.14 :2087.32 : 2.711

:3414.02
:3881.24
:$467.22

:3885.97
:4553.63
:$667.66

: 5.047
: 5.914
:$ .867

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (30 lbs.) . . . . : 459 :1147
Total growing cost . . . . :$1089.93 :$2634.59
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 1194.67 : 3148.16
Total crop cost . . . . : 2867.51 : 5782.75
Crop sales . . . . ... : 2318.32 : 7503.06
Net return . . . . .. ... :$-604.25 :$1978.30

aReported by 11 growers averaging $43.79 per acre.

13
3055
235
770

Table 24.--WATERMELONS: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-Lee area
5-season average 1974-78 and 1978-79

Item '".:5-season:
Item average:-79
: average:

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

5 :
480 :
96 :
295

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 m
Interest on capital invested (other than
Miscellaneous expense . . .
Total growing cost . .

Harvesting and marketing costs:

Picking expense . . .
Packing expense . . .
Containers . . . .
Hauling . . . .
Selling . . . .

Acre
. :$ 24.79
.. : 8.57
.. : 188.91
97.67
.. : 138.02
.. : 53.91
: 29.76
.. : 41.66
.. : 30.38
.. : 18.05
months). : 23.15
land). : 4.56
.. : 16.06

Average per
Acre
:$ 55.97
:11.78
: 205.50
: 126.98
: 128.97
: 126.62
:44.52
:56.08
:39.68
:44.50
:30.74
5.95
18.76

: 675.49 : 896.05 :$2.872

91.01
73.29
21.42
119.22
66.96

95.68
79.80
15.58
134.14
87.28

Total harvesting and marketing cost . : 371.90 : 412.48 : 1.322

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

:1047.39
:1444.21
:$396.82

:1308.53
:2210.63
:$902.10

: 4.194
: 7.085
:$2.891

1978-79 Range per acre
From To

Yield (cwt.) . . . . . : 220 380
Total growing cost . . . . :$ 666.70 :$1164.86
Total harvesting and marketing cost . . : 300.00 : 478.40
Total crop cost . . . . : 1145.10 : 1639.86
Crop sales ............. . : 1540.00 : 3051.16
Net return . . . .. .. :$ 350.73 :$1411.30

Cwt.

.307
.256
.050
.430
.279

	Front Cover
	Abstract
	Foreword
	Acknowledgements
	Table of Contents
	Map
	Definitions
	Main