| WATERMELON (seedless), FRESH MARKET, TRICKLE IRRIGATED | ||||||
| Kentucky Estimated per Acre Costs and Returns for 2001 | ||||||
| Quantity | Unit | $/Unit | Total | |||
| GROSS RETURNS | 350 | cwt | ||||
| Watermelons, Seedless | 234.5 | cwt | $ 8.00 | $ 1,876.00 | a,b | |
| Watermelons, Seeded | 115.5 | cwt | $ 7.00 | $ 808.50 | ||
| Total Returns | $ 2,684.50 | |||||
| VARIABLE COSTS | ||||||
| Production | ||||||
| Plants, Seedless | 536 | plants | $ 0.16 | $ 85.76 | ||
| Plants, Seeded | 264 | plants | $ 0.09 | $ 23.76 | ||
| 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 | 1.2 | cwt | $ 12.50 | $ 15.00 | ||
| Black Plastic/Drip Lines | 1 | acre | $ 250.00 | $ 250.00 | c | |
| Herbicides (Row Middles) | 1 | acre | $ 30.55 | d | ||
| Insecticides | 4 | apps. | $ 50.05 | d | ||
| Fungicides | 3 | apps. | $ 112.13 | d | ||
| Pollination | 1 | hive | $ 40.00 | $ 40.00 | ||
| Irrigation | 90 | hrs. | $ 0.40 | $ 36.00 | c | |
| Additional Hired Labor (Transplants) | 16 | hrs. | $ 8.00 | $ 128.00 | ||
| Machinery Variable Costs | 1 | acre | $ 35.73 | $ 35.73 | e | |
| Total Preharvest Variable Costs | $ 888.04 | |||||
| HARVESTING AND MARKETING | ||||||
| Plastic Disposal | 18 | hours | $ 8.00 | $ 144.00 | ||
| Plastic Disposal Fee | 1 | fee | $ 10.00 | $ 10.00 | ||
| Hired Labor | ||||||
| Harvest & Field Grading | $ 1.85 | cwt | $ 647.50 | f | ||
| Marketing Costs (10% of Gross) | 10.0% | gross | $ 268.45 | |||
| Hauling Variable Costs | 350 | cwt | $ 0.15 | $ 52.50 | e | |
| Total Harvesting and Marketing Cost | $ 1,122.45 | |||||
| Interest on Variable Costs | $ 65.22 | |||||
| TOTAL VARIABLE COST | $ 2,075.71 | |||||
| RETURN ABOVE VARIABLE COSTS | $ 608.79 | |||||
| FIXED COSTS | ||||||
| Machinery and Equipment | $ 83.08 | e | ||||
| Depreciation on Irrigation System | $ 159.94 | c | ||||
| Taxes on Land | $ 5.00 | |||||
| Insurance | $ 35.00 | |||||
| TOTAL FIXED COSTS | $ 283.02 | |||||
| TOTAL EXPENSES | $ 2,358.72 | |||||
| RETURN TO OPERATOR LABOR, LAND, CAPITAL, & MGT. | $ 325.78 | |||||
| Operator and Unpaid Family Labor | 30 | hrs. | $ 8.00 | $ 240.00 | ||
| RETURN TO LAND, CAPITAL, AND MANAGEMENT | $ 85.78 | |||||
| a Average Yield for US was 215 cwt per acre in 1999. On plastic with trickle irrigation will result in yields of 300-400 cwt. | ||||||
| b Price based on USDA season average price and terminal market price trends in Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis, during KY season | ||||||
| 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 1999 UK product costs | ||||||
| e Machinery costs based on 1996 NC State standards used in cantaloupe budget and 1999 Iowa State estimated machinery costs | ||||||
| f Based on state budgets with revisions by Kentucky vegetable experts | ||||||