UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
SAMPLE COSTS TO PRODUCE
BITTERMELON
San Joaquin Valley - 2005
STUDY CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...........................................
2
ASSUMPTIONS. ........................................
3
Production Operating Costs.........................................................
3
Cash Overhead ..............................................................
5
Non-Cash Overhead ........................................................
6
REFERENCES .................................................................
8
Table 1. COSTS PER ACRE to PRODUCE BITTERMELON ..................................
9
Table 2. COSTS AND RETURNS PER ACRE to PRODUCE BITTERMELON .........................
10
Table 3. MONTHLY CASH COSTS PER ACRE to PRODUCE BITTERMELON ....................................
11
Table 4. RANGING ANALYSIS ...................................................
12
Table 5. WHOLE FARM ANNUAL EQUIPMENT, INVESTMENT and OVERHEAD COSTS..........................
13
Table 6. HOURLY EQUIPMENT COSTS ..............................
13
Table 7. OPERATIONS WITH EQUIPMENT ..................................
14
INTRODUCTION
Sample costs to produce bittermelon in the San Joaquin Valley are
shown in this study. The study is intended as a guide only, and can be used
to make production decisions, determine potential returns, prepare budgets
and evaluate production loans. The practices described are based on production
operations considered typical for this crop and region, but will not apply
to every farm. Sample costs for labor, materials, equipment and custom services
are based on current figures. “Your Costs” columns in Tables 1 and 2 are provided
for entering your farm costs.
The hypothetical farm operations, production practices, overhead,
and calculations are described under the assumptions. For additional information
or an explanation of the calculations used in the study call the Department
of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, California,
(530) 752-3589 or the local UC Cooperative Extension office.
Sample Cost of Production Studies for many commodities can be downloaded
at http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu,
requested through the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC
Davis, (530) 752-4424 or obtained from the local county UC Cooperative Extension
offices. Some archived studies are also available on the website.
The University of California does not discriminate in
any of its policies, procedures or practices. The university is an affirmative
action/equal opportunity employer.
University of California and USDA, Risk Management
Cooperating.
ASSUMPTIONS
The assumptions refer to Tables 1 to 7 and pertain to
sample costs to produce bittermelon in the San Joaquin Valley. The cultural
practices described represent production operations
and materials considered typical for a small farm in the region. Costs, materials,
and practices in this study will not apply to all farms. Timing of and types
of cultural practices will vary among growers within the region and from season
to season due to variables such as weather, soil, and insect and disease pressure.
The use of trade names and cultural practices in this report does not constitute
an endorsement or recommendation by the University of California nor is any
criticism implied by omission of other similar products or cultural practices.
Farm.
This report is based on a 10 contiguous acre farm. The land is rented and
planted to Asian vegetables. In this study two acres are planted to bittermelon
and the remaining acres to other Asian vegetables. The grower and family
do the majority of the labor for the operations, but a labor cost (opportunity
cost) is shown for each operation.
Production
Operating Costs
Land
Preparation. A custom operator
plows the land one time, discs two times and lists the beds in January. After
listing, the bed peaks are flattened with a nine-foot pipe (3 rows) towed
behind the grower’s tractor. Black plastic is then laid by hand (2 persons)
on alternate beds.
Plant.
A cost is not shown for seed or transplants, because the bittermelon seed
is saved from the previous year’s crop and is planted in the grower’s greenhouse
sometime during December to January. The plant trays hold 50 plants per tray
and take about 20 minutes per tray to plant. The germinated plants are
transplanted in the field in mid-February to mid-March. The grower transplants
1,200 plants per acre at a six-foot in-row spacing. Holes for the plants
are burned or punched in the plastic as the planter person plants. Rows are
usually 250 to 300 feet long. Two people (16 man hours) plant one acre per
day.
Irrigation.
Irrigation includes the water costs and irrigation labor. Lay-flat poly vinyl
pipe is laid at the end of the rows and the water is run down the furrows.
Irrigation begins in March two to three days after planting. The field is
irrigated every five days during March, April, and May, every three days during
July, August, and September and once a week during early-October. Water at
$2.50 per irrigation is assumed to be a typical cost. Water costs were provided
from the growers pumping charges for the summer months. Assuming the crop
uses approximately 30 acre-inches per season, this equates to a cost of $4.83
per acre-inch. Irrigation labor is calculated as one-half hour per acre per
irrigation.
Fertilization.
The crop is fertilized at planting with soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer dissolved
in water at three ounces of liquid fertilizer per plant or one 25-pound bag
per two to three acres. (10 pounds per acre in this study). The fertilizer
is placed in the planting hole at planting. Labor costs for applying the fertilizer
are included in the planting labor. One or two more fertilizations with UN32
at five gallons per acre per application is typical in May and July. Labor
costs for the UN32 fertilization are included in the irrigation labor.
Crop Protection. The grower builds tunnels over the new transplants.
Wire hoops (reusable) are spaced down the row every six-feet. Three-foot
wide plastic is laid over each side of the hoop and attached to each other
at the top with a clothespin. They are opened as needed to allow the plants
to grow through and to vent on warm days to prevent burning. It takes one
person per day per acre to set out the hoops and two persons per day per acre
to stretch the plastic over the hoops. The tunnels are removed in mid-April
or May and it takes two-hours per acre with two persons. Some growers use
hot caps instead of tunnels. (If the grower plants after any danger of frost
the tunnel cost ($1,200) can be omitted.)
Trellis System. Six-foot stakes (reusable) are pounded in the ground
at six-foot spacing; netting is attached to the stakes to form a trellis that
the plants will grow up. It takes two persons one day (8 hours) per acre
to pound the stakes and an equal amount of time to install the net. The trellis
is removed at the end-of-the season. See Field Cleanup.
Pest Management. Pesticides for insects and diseases are not currently
recommended for bittermelon. If insects or diseases appear, contact your
local farm advisor or pest control adviser.
Weeds. The furrows are hand sprayed using a backpack sprayer
with Roundup in April or May and in August. It takes about 1.5 hours per
acre per spray. Black plastic provides weed control on the beds. The field
is hand-weeded in March and again in May to control the weeds in the area
where weeds were not controlled by the spray and black plastic. Hand weeding
time will vary according to the weed population, but an average of three hours
per acre is used in this study.
Insects. Nematodes can be a problem but are usually not treated.
Diseases. None
Harvest.
The crop is harvested twice a week from June 15 through October 15. The vegetables
are packed in 30-pound boxes and hauled to a packinghouse. According to the
growers, one person can pick approximately 2.5 boxes per hour. At the end
of each picking day, the grower delivers the product to the packinghouse or
to a farmers market using the pickup and trailer.
Yields. For this study, the crop yields an average of 62.5
boxes per week (31.25 per picking) per acre or 1,000 thirty-pound boxes per
acre per season. A range of yields over various prices is shown in Table
4.
Returns. Based on grower information, the crop returns average
$15 per 30-pound box. According to the 2004 USDA Wholesale Reports for June
to October, the price ranged from $7.50 to $22.50 per box. Assuming that
70% of the wholesale price is the net return to the grower, the grower range
is $5.25 to $15.75 per box.
Field
Cleanup. In October after the
last harvest, the plants are chopped by hand, and the stakes, netting, and
mulch are removed. One person can chop the plants and remove the mulch at
the rate of three 250-foot rows per eight-hour day (approximately 80 hours
per acre).
Pickup/ATV.
Costs for a 1/2-ton pickup is included in the study. The pickup and a trailer
are used for hauling the harvested bittermelon to the packing shed and is
included in that cost. The pickup and trailer are used to haul the removed
tunnels, mulch and netting to the landfill and the costs are included in the
respective operations. In addition, the grower drives another 250 miles per
acre for farming purposes or to sell his crop at a farmers market.
Labor. Labor
rates of $12.42 per hour for machine operators and $9.32 for general labor
includes payroll overhead of 38%. The basic hourly wages are $9.00 for machine
operators and $6.75 for general labor. The overhead includes the employers’
share of federal and California state payroll taxes, workers' compensation
insurance for truck crops (code 0172), and a percentage for other possible
benefits. Workers’ compensation costs will vary among growers, but for this
study the cost is based upon the average industry final rate as of January
1, 2005 (California Department of Insurance). Labor for operations involving
machinery are 20% higher than the operation time given in Table 1 to
account for the extra labor involved in equipment set up, moving, maintenance,
work breaks, and field repair.
Equipment
Operating Costs. Repair costs are based on purchase price, annual hours
of use, total hours of life, and repair coefficients formulated by American
Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE). Fuel and lubrication costs are
also determined by ASAE equations based on maximum Power Take Off (PTO) horsepower,
and fuel type. Prices for on-farm delivery of diesel and gasoline
are $1.51 and $2.05 per gallon, respectively. The cost includes a 2% local
sales tax on diesel fuel and 8% sales tax on gasoline. Gasoline also includes
federal and state excise tax, which are refundable for on-farm use when filing
your income tax. The fuel, lube, and repair cost per acre for each operation
in Table 1 is determined by multiplying the total hourly operating cost in
Table 6 for each piece of equipment used for the selected operation by the
hours per acre. Tractor time is 10% higher than implement time for a given
operation to account for setup, travel and down time.
Interest On Operating Capital.
Interest on operating capital is based on cash operating
costs and is calculated monthly until harvest at a nominal rate of 7.65% per
year. A nominal interest rate is the typical market cost of borrowed funds.
The interest cost of post harvest operations is discounted back to the last
harvest month using a negative interest charge.
Risk. Production risks should not be minimized. While this study makes
every effort to model a production system based on typical, real world practices,
it cannot fully represent financial, agronomic and market risks, which affect
the profitability and economic viability.
Cash Overhead
Cash overhead
consists of various cash expenses paid out during the year that are assigned
to the whole farm and not to a particular operation. These costs include
property taxes, interest on operating capital, office expense, liability and
property insurance, and investment repairs.
Property Taxes. Counties charge a base property tax rate of 1% on the assessed value
of the property. In some counties special assessment districts exist and
charge additional taxes on property including equipment, buildings, and improvements.
For this study, county taxes are calculated as 1% of the average value of
the property. Average value equals new cost plus salvage value divided by
2 on a per acre basis.
Insurance. Insurance for farm investments varies depending on the assets included and
the amount of coverage. Property insurance provides coverage for property
loss and is charged at 0.69% of the average value of the assets over their
useful life. Liability insurance covers accidents on the farm and costs $429
for the entire farm.
Office Expense. Office and business expenses are estimated at $10 per acre. These
expenses include office supplies, telephones, bookkeeping, accounting, and
legal fees. The cost is a general estimate and not based on any actual data.
Land Rent. The 10 acres are rented for cash at $300 per acre.
The rented land includes the irrigation system that is maintained by the landlord.
The landowner also pays the property tax on the rented land. Land rents range
from $250 to $350 per acre.
Investment Repairs. Annual maintenance except for the greenhouse, which
is 20%, is calculated as two percent of the purchase price.
Non-cash Overhead
Non-cash overhead is calculated as the capital
recovery cost for equipment and other farm investments.
Capital Recovery Costs. Capital recovery cost is the annual depreciation and
interest costs for a capital investment. It is the amount of money required
each year to recover the difference between the purchase price and salvage
value (unrecovered capital). It is equivalent to the annual payment on a
loan for the investment with the down payment equal to the discounted salvage
value. This is a more complex method of calculating ownership costs than
straight-line depreciation and opportunity costs, but more accurately represents
the annual costs of ownership because it takes the time value of money into
account (Boehlje and Eidman). The formula for the calculation of the annual
capital recovery costs is ((Purchase Price – Salvage Value) x Capital Recovery
Factor) + (Salvage Value x Interest Rate).
Salvage Value. Salvage value is an estimate of the remaining value
of an investment at the end of its useful life. For farm machinery (tractors
and implements) the remaining value is a percentage of the new cost of the
investment (Boehlje and Eidman). The percent remaining value is calculated
from equations developed by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers
(ASAE) based on equipment type and years of life. The life in years is estimated
by dividing the wear out life, as given by ASAE by the annual hours of use
in this operation. For other investments including irrigation systems, buildings,
and miscellaneous equipment, the value at the end of its useful life is zero.
The salvage value for land is the purchase price because land does not depreciate.
The purchase price and salvage value for equipment and investments are shown
in the tables.
Capital Recovery Factor. Capital recovery factor is the amortization factor
or annual payment whose present value at compound interest is 1. The amortization
factor is a table value that corresponds to the interest rate used and the
life of the machine.
Interest Rate. The interest rate of 6.01% used to calculate capital
recovery cost is the USDA-ERSs ten-year average of California’s agricultural
sector long-run rate of return to production assets from current income.
It is used to reflect the long-term realized rate of return to these specialized
resources used effectively in the agricultural sector.
Tools. This includes shop tools, hand tools, and miscellaneous field tools. The tools
are an estimated value and not taken from any specific data.
Irrigation. The grower owns 1,732 feet of vinyl flat pipe to deliver
the water to the furrows. The pipe was purchased for the farm and the cost
is allocated among the various crops.
Greenhouse. The grower builds a greenhouse of PVC pipe and plastic
to start the plants and for some plant storage. The greenhouse is 20 feet
x 20 feet. The plastic cover may need to be replaced in one or two years.
The greenhouse is assumed to be used for other crops on the farm and the cost
is allocated accordingly.
Equipment. Farm equipment is purchased new or used, but the study
shows the current purchase price for new equipment. The new purchase price
is adjusted to 60% to indicate a mix of new and used equipment. Annual ownership
costs for equipment and other investments are shown in the Whole Farm Annual
Equipment, Investment, and Business Overhead Costs table. Equipment costs
are composed of three parts: non-cash overhead, cash overhead, and operating
costs. Both of the overhead factors have been discussed in previous sections.
The operating costs consist of repairs, fuel, and lubrication and are discussed
under operating costs.
Table Values. Due to rounding, the totals may be slightly different from the sum of the
components.
REFERENCES
American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
1994. American Society of Agricultural Engineers Standards Yearbook.
Russell H. Hahn and Evelyn E. Rosentreter (ed.) St. Joseph, Missouri. 41st
edition.
Barker, Doug. 2005. California
Workers’ Compensation Rating Data for Selected Agricultural Classifications
as of January 1, 2005. California Department of Insurance, Rate Regulation
Branch.
Boehlje, Michael D., and Vernon R. Eidman. 1984. Farm
Management. John Wiley and Sons. New York, New York
California State Automobile Association. 2005.
Gas Price Survey 2004. AAA Public Affairs, San Francisco,
California State Board of
Equalization. Fuel Tax Division Tax Rates. Internet accessed January
2005. http://www.boe.ca.gov/sptaxprog/spftdrates.htm.
Energy Information Administration.
2004. Weekly Retail on Highway Diesel Prices. Internet accessed January
2005. http://tonto.eis.doe.gov/oog/info/wohdp.
La Rue, J. F. Yoshikawa, B. Beede, and P. Thomas. 1981.
Sample Production Costs for Producing Pomegranates. University of
California Cooperative Extension, Tulare, Fresno, and Kings Counties.
La Rue, J. F. Yoshikawa, B. Beede, and P. Thomas. 1981.
Sample Production Costs 1st to 4th Year Establishment Costs for Pomegranates.
University of California Cooperative Extension, Tulare, Fresno, and Kings
Counties.
United States Department of Agriculture-Economic Reporting
Service. Farm Financial Ratios Indicating Solvency and Profitability 1960
– 02, California. 2002. Internet; accessed January 4, 2005. www.ers.usda.gov/data/farmbalancesheet/fbsdmu.htm
For
information concerning University of California publications contact UC DANR
Communications Services (1-800-994-8849), online at http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu or your
local county Cooperative Extension office.
