Table 16. IRISH POTATOES: Costs and returns per acre in the Hastings area,
 5-season average 1977-81 and 1981-82

 1977-81 1981-82 Season
 average per

 Category Acre Acre Cwt.

 Yield (cwt.) 222 240

 Total receipts.....................,..... $1209.05 $1824.00 $7.600
 Operating costs
 Seed.............. .... .. .... ............ 184.73 238.56
 Fertilizer............ ................. 119.93 155.43
 Spray and dust......................... 68.19 114.44
 Cultural labor ........................ 74.60 87.44
 Machine hire........................... 9.16 8.34
 Gas, oil, grease......*................ 35.94 60.06
 Repair and maintenance................. 60.23 75.95
 Interest on production
 capital (17% 4 months)............. 22.35 50.01
 Miscellaneous expense.................. 20.68 53.82
 Total operating costs.................... 595.81 844.05 3.517
Fixed costs
 Land rent.............................. 48.15 46.99
 Depreciation................... ...... 52.92 63.07
 Licenses and insurance................. 33.46 41.44
 Interest on investment................. 7.48 8.04
Total fixed costs........................ 142.01 159.54 0.665
Harvesting and marketing costs
 Digging ................ ............... 47.83 71.44 0.298
 Grading and packing.................... 75.95 110.89 0.462
 Containers .................. ....... 28.70 81.61 0.340
 Hauling.......... .... .................. 44.27 60.15 0.251
 Selling................................ 60.74 71.34 0.297
Total harvesting and marketing costs..... 257.49 395.43 1.648
Total costs............................. 995.31 1399.02 5.829
Net return............................... 213.74 424.98 1.771