CUCUMBERS, FRESH MARKET, TRICKLE IRRIGATED
Kentucky Estimated per Acre Costs and Returns for 2001
	Quantity	Unit	$/Unit	Total
GROSS RETURNS
Cucumbers (1 1/9 bu box)	500	box	$    8.00	$ 4,000.00	a,b
VARIABLE COSTS
Production
Seed	2	lb	$   60.00	$    120.00
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	1	cwt	$   12.50	$      12.50
Black Plastic/Drip Lines	1	acre	$ 300.00	$    300.00	c
Herbicides:  Curbit 3E	1	apps.		$      26.00	d
Nematicide	1	apps.		$      20.16	d
Insecticides	5	apps.		$      47.30	d
Fungicides	3	apps.		$    153.41	d
Pollination	1	hive	$   40.00	$      40.00
Irrigation	90	hrs.	$    0.40	$      36.00	c
Machinery Variable Costs	1	acre	$   38.28	$      38.28	e
Total Preharvest Variable Costs				$    874.71
HARVESTING AND MARKETING
Boxes	500	boxes	$    1.25	$    625.00
Plastic Disposal	18	hours	$    8.00	$    144.00
Plastic Disposal Fee	1	fee	$   10.00	$      10.00
Hired Labor
Harvest	$    0.85	box		$    425.00	f
Wash/Wax/Pack	$    1.20	box		$    600.00	f
Marketing Costs (10% of Gross)	10.0%	gross		$    400.00
Hauling Labor Charge	10	hours	$    8.00	$      80.00
Hauling Variable Costs	500	boxes	$    0.07	$      35.00	e
Total Harvesting and Marketing Cost				$ 2,319.00
Interest on Variable Costs				$      91.54
TOTAL VARIABLE COST				$ 3,285.25
RETURN ABOVE VARIABLE COSTS				$    714.75
FIXED COSTS
Machinery and Equipment				$      89.97	e
Depreciation on Irrigation System				$    159.94	c
Taxes on Land				$       5.00
Insurance				$      20.00
TOTAL FIXED COSTS				$    274.91
TOTAL EXPENSES				$ 3,560.16
RETURN TO OPERATOR LABOR, LAND, CAPITAL, & MGT.				$    439.84
Operator and Unpaid Family Labor	20	hrs.	$    8.00	$    160.00
RETURN TO LAND, CAPITAL, AND MANAGEMENT				$    279.84
a Average Yield for US was 199 cwt (398 bu.) per acre in 1999.
b Price based on USDA season average price received by producers 1994-2000 and 2000 terminal market price trends 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.
Irrigation costs may vary widely depending on water source; on-farm source is assumed here.
d Pesticide costs based on recommended applications of various products using 2000 UK product costs
e Machinery costs based on 2000 Iowa State estimates modified for Kentucky vegetable production
f  Based on NC State Budgets with revisions by Kentucky vegetable experts.  1996 NC State total for harvest/pack:  $2.10/bu