Strawberries: Estimated production costs in the Plant City area, 2002-2003

Average per

Category Acre a  Flat
Yield (wt. average 8 and 10 lb flats) 

2600

 
     
OPERATING COSTS -------Dollars-----
Transplants 17000  
Fertilizer 343.75  
Fumigant 715.20  
Fungicide 503.37  
Herbicide 113.70  
Insecticide 471.42  
General Farm Labor 44.50  
Machinery Variable Cost 346.66  
Tractor Driver Labor 283.59  
     
MISCELLANEOUS    
Transplant Labor 220.00  
Plastic Disposal 75.00  
Cut Runners, Hoe and Hand Weed 120.00  
Farm Vehicles 87.94  
Drip Tape 100.00  
Plastic Mulch 248.88  
Scouting 55.00  
Predatory Mites 120.00  
Crop Insurance 100.00  
Interest on Operating Capital 442.09  
     
Total Operating Costs 6128.60  
     
FIXED COSTS    
Land Rent 1000.00  
Machinery Fixed Costs 171.92  
Overhead 2050.67  
     
Total Fixed Cost 3222.59  
     
TOTAL PREHARVEST COST 9351.19 4.56
     
HARVEST AND MARKETING COSTS    
Pack and Sell 3485.00 1.70
Harvest Berries 8712.50 4.25
     
Total Harvest and Marketing Cost 12197.50 5.95
     
TOTAL COST 21548.69 10.51

Strawberries: Estimated net returns for various price and yield combinations in the Plant City area, 2001-2002

Dollars per flat
Yield (flats) 7.50 9.00 10.50 12.00 13.50
1800 -6561.00 -3861.00 -1161.00 1539.00 4239.00
1950 -6329.00 -3404.00 -479.00 2446.00 5371.00
2100 -6096.00 -2946.00 204.00 3354.00 6504.00
2250 -5864.00 -2489.00 886.00 4261.00 7636.00
2400 -5631.00 -2031.00 1569.00 5169.00 8768.00

Source:  University of Florida, IFAS Agriculture Business Center.