Table 15. IRISH POTATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Dade County
 area, 5-season average 1977-81 and 1981-82

 1977-81 1981-82 Season
 average per

 Category Acre Acre Cwt.

 Yield (cwt.) 153 182

 Total receipts........................... $1434.88 $2524.34 $13.870
 Operating costs
 Seed.................. ................. 245.02 296.25
 Fertilizer ............................. 112.04 172.19
 Spray and dust......................... 115.29 183.05
 Cultural labor.................. ....... 109.29 207.07
 Machine hire ........................... 12.23 8.81
 Gas, oil, grease......a................ 36.78 88.43
 Repair and maintenance................. 56.58 111.96
 Interest on production
 capital (17% 4 months)............. 28.97 71.23
 Miscellaneous expense.................. 22.57 14.13
Total operating costs.................... 738.77 1153.12 6.336
Fixed costs
 Land rent.............................. 79.92 121.61
 Depreciation........................... 39.57 101.50
 Licenses and insurance................. 58.51 53.43
 Interest on investment................. 6.61 14.38
Total fixed costs........................ 184.61 290.92 1.598
Harvesting and marketing costs
 Digging................................ 34.22 37.51 0.206
 Grading and packing.................... 174.00 183.12 1.006
 Containers.............................. 54.06 77.66 0.427
 Hauling........... ..................... 32.22 16.98 0.093
 Selling................................ 45.32 68.05 0.374
Total harvesting and marketing costs..... 339.82 383.32 2.106
Total costs.............................. 1263.20 1827.36 10.040
Net return............................... 171.68 696.98 3.830