YELLOW CROOKNECK SQUASH, FRESH MARKET, TRICKLE IRRIGATED
Kentucky Estimated per Acre Costs and Returns for 2001
Quantity Unit $/Unit Total
GROSS RETURNS
Summer Squash (5/9 bu. box) 1000 boxes  $    5.75  $5,750.00 a,b
VARIABLE COSTS
Production
   Seed 2 lb  $   45.00  $     90.00
   Lime 0.5 ton  $   12.12  $      6.06
   Fertilizer: 5-10-10 Spread 10 cwt  $    7.50  $     75.00
   Fertilizer: Side Dressing 33.5%N 2 cwt  $   12.50  $     25.00
   Black Plastic/Drip Lines 1 acre  $ 300.00  $   300.00 c
   Herbicides: Preplant 5.5 qts  $     50.63 d
   Insecticides 5 apps.  $     57.56 d
   Fungicides 3 apps.  $   129.65 d
   Pollination 1 hive  $   40.00  $     40.00 d
   Irrigation 90 hrs.  $    0.40  $     36.00 g
   Hired Labor 25 hrs.  $    8.00  $   200.00
   Machinery Variable Costs 1 acre  $   33.90  $     33.90 e
Total Preharvest Variable Costs  $1,043.80
HARVESTING AND MARKETING
 Boxes 1000 boxes  $    1.00  $1,000.00
 Plastic Disposal 18 hours  $    8.00  $   144.00
 Plastic Disposal Fee 1 fee  $   10.00  $     10.00
 Hired Labor
   Harvest  $    0.60 box  $   600.00 f
   Wash/Pack  $    1.20 box  $1,200.00 f
   Marketing Costs (10% of Gross) 10.0% gross  $   575.00
   Hauling Labor Charge 10 hours  $    8.00  $     80.00
 Hauling Variable Costs 1000 boxes  $    0.07  $     70.00 e
Total Harvesting and Marketing Cost  $3,679.00
Interest on Variable Costs  $   129.75
TOTAL VARIABLE COST  $4,852.54
RETURN ABOVE VARIABLE COSTS  $   897.46
FIXED COSTS
   Machinery and Equipment  $   102.85 e
   Depreciation on Irrigation System  $   159.94 d
   Taxes on Land  $      5.00
   Insurance  $     28.75
TOTAL FIXED COSTS  $   296.54
TOTAL EXPENSES  $5,149.08
RETURN TO OPERATOR LABOR, LAND, CAPITAL, & MGT.  $   600.92
Operator and Unpaid Family Labor 20 hrs.  $    8.00  $   160.00
RETURN TO LAND, CAPITAL, AND MANAGEMENT  $   440.92
a Based on estimated KY yields
b Price based on terminal market prices received in Atlanta, Detroit, and St. Louis
c 2000 UK estimate for trickle irrigation.  Based on $1244 fixed costs, st. line depreciation, 7-year useful life
d Pesticide costs based on recommended applications of various products using 2000 UK product costs
e Machinery costs based on 1996 NC State standards used in squash budget and 2000 Iowa State estimated machinery costs
f  Based on NC State Budgets with revisions by Kentucky vegetable experts.  1996 NC State total for harvest/pack:  $1.70
g Actual irrigation costs may be highly variable depending on source and cost of water. 
   Budget assumes an established on-farm water source.