SWEET CORN, FRESH MARKET, Overhead Irrigated
Kentucky Estimated per Acre Costs and Returns for 2001
Quantity Unit $/Unit Total
GROSS RETURNS
Sweet Corn  (Crate) 340 crate  $    5.50  $1,870.00 a,b
VARIABLE COSTS
Production
   Seed 15 lb  $    6.00  $     90.00
   Lime 0.5 ton  $   12.12  $      6.06
   Fertilizer: 10-10-10 Spread 8 cwt  $    6.65  $     53.23
   Fertilizer: Side Dressing 33.5%N 1.5 cwt  $   12.50  $     18.75
   Herbicide 4 qts  $    5.85  $     22.72 c
   Insecticides 9 apps.  $   149.98 c
   Fungicide 4 oz  $    2.66  $     10.65
   Irrigation 8 hrs  $    7.50  $     80.00 f
   Machinery Variable Costs 1 acre  $   29.97  $     29.97 d
Total Preharvest Variable Costs  $   461.35
HARVESTING AND MARKETING
 Crates 340 crates  $    1.45  $   493.00
 Hired Labor
   Harvest & Pack  $    1.30 crate  $   442.00 e
   Misc. Harvest Labor        2.50 hrs  $    8.00  $     20.00
 Marketing Costs (10% of Gross) 10.0% gross  $   187.00
 Hauling Variable Costs 340 crates  $    0.08  $     27.20
Total Harvesting and Marketing Cost  $1,169.20
Interest on Variable Costs  $     47.07
TOTAL VARIABLE COST  $1,677.62
RETURN ABOVE VARIABLE COSTS  $   192.38
FIXED COSTS
   Machinery and Equipment  $     73.35 d
   Depreciation on Irrigation System  $   175.00
   Taxes on Land  $      5.00
   Insurance  $     28.05
TOTAL FIXED COSTS  $   281.40
TOTAL EXPENSES  $1,959.02
RETURN TO OPERATOR LABOR, LAND, CAPITAL, & MGT.  $    (89.02)
Operator and Unpaid Family Labor 20 hrs.  $    8.00  $   160.00
RETURN TO LAND, CAPITAL, AND MANAGEMENT  $  (249.02)
a Average Yield for US was 112 cwt per acre in 1999.
b Price based on USDA season average price received by producers 1994-99 average $17.50/cwt and seasonal terminal market price trends from Atlanta, Detroit, and St. Louis.
c Pesticide costs based on recommended applications of various products using 2000 UK product costs
d Machinery costs based on 2000 Iowa State estimated machinery costs adjusted to Kentucky and vegetable production
e Based on NC State Budgets with revisions by Kentucky vegetable experts.  1996 NC State total for harvest/pack:  $1.10/crate
f  Irrigation costs assume on-farm water source.  Costs may vary considerably by irrigation system and water source.