Strawberries: Estimated production costs in the Plant City area, 2003-2004

Average per

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

2600

 
     
OPERATING COSTS -------Dollars-----
Transplants 1837.00  
Fertilizer 435.00  
Fumigant 840.00  
Fungicide 528.87  
Herbicide 120.32  
Insecticide 535.06  
General Farm Labor 44.50  
Machinery Variable Cost 400.48  
Tractor Driver Labor 283.59  
     
MISCELLANEOUS    
Transplant Labor 116.31  
Plastic Disposal 330.00  
Cut Runners, Hoe and Hand Weed 100.00  
Farm Vehicles 150.00  
Drip Tape 400.00  
Plastic Mulch 320.00  
Scouting 55.00  
Predatory Mites 150.00  
Crop Insurance 100.00  
Interest on Operating Capital 629.62  
     
Total Operating Costs 7376.25  
     
FIXED COSTS    
Land Rent 1000.00  
Machinery Fixed Costs 173.65  
Overhead 2613.69  
     
Total Fixed Cost 3787.35  
     
TOTAL PREHARVEST COST 11163.60 4.29
     
HARVEST AND MARKETING COSTS    
Pack and Sell 8060.00 3.10
Harvest Berries 6500.00 2.50
     
Total Harvest and Marketing Cost 14560.00 5.60
     
TOTAL COST 25723.60 9.89

Strawberries: Estimated net returns for various price and yield combinations in the Plant City area, 2003-2004

Dollars per flat
Yield (flats) 7.50 9.00 10.50 12.00 13.50
2400 -6604.00 -3004.00 596.00 4196.00 7796.00
2600 -6414.00 -2664.00 1086.00 4836.00 8586.00
2800 -6224.00 -2324.00 1576.00 5476.00 9376.00
3000 -6034.00 -1984.00 2066.00 6116.00 10166.00
3200 -5844.00 -1644.00 2556.00 6756.00 10956.00

Source:  University of Florida, IFAS Agriculture Business Center.