11



 Table 11. LEAF CROPS: Costs and returns per acre in the Central Florida
 area, 5-season average 1977-81 and 1981-82

 1977-81 1981-82 Season
 average per

 Category Acre Acre Crate

 Yield (crates) 664 552

 Total receipts........................... $2611.40 $3687.36 $6.680
 Operating costs
 Seed................................. .. 114.01 90.42
 Fertilizer............ ............ 59.52 71.87
 Spray and dust........................ 70.00 75.17
 Cultural labor ........................ 205.12 256.57
 Machine hire........... ............ -- -
 Gas, oil, grease...................... 28.32 35.54
 Repair and maintenance................. 83.69 106.52
 Interest on production
 capital (17% 4 months)............. 24.55 48.76
 Miscellaneous expense................. 58.40 56.64
Total operating costs.................... 643.61 741.49 1.343
Fixed costs
 Land rent.............................. 48.69 93.84
 Depreciation.................... 37.66 40.04
 Licenses and insurance................. 63.59 73.91
 Interest on investment................ 6.41 5.67
Total fixed costs........................ 156.35 213.46 0.387
Harvesting and marketing costs
 Picking and packing.................... 274.37 397.44 0.720
 Containers............................ 504.19 601.68 1.090
 Hauling................................ 50.10 47.16 0.085
 Other............... ................... 194.61 226.64 0.411
 Selling................................ 81.73 138.00 0.250
Total harvesting and marketing costs..... 1105.00 1410.92 2.556
Total costs.............................. 1904.96 2365.87 4.286
Net return............................... 706.44 1321.49 2.394