18



Table 18. SQUASH: 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 Bushel

Yield (bushels) 154 162

Total receipts........................... $1257.68 $1569.78 $9.690
Operating costs
 Seed......... ....... ..... ..... ....... 78.08 108.86
 Fertilizer ............... ............ 90.16 117.24
 Spray and dust....................... 77.96 88.08
 Cultural labor....................... 76.11 89.72
 Machine hire........................... 19.17 16.05
 Gas, oil, grease......,................ 39.83 56.69
 Repair and maintenance................. 57.01 67.99
 Interest on production
 capital (17% 4 months)............. 19.31 42.83
 Miscellaneous expense .................. 19.18 31.34
Total operating costs.................... 476.81 618.80 3.820
Fixed costs
 Land rent............................. 62.94 121.61
 Depreciation............................ 32.15 40.58
 Licenses and insurance................. 47.28 58.29
 Interest on investment................. 4.24 2.30
Total fixed costs.... ................... 146.61 222.78 1.375
Harvesting and marketing costs
 Picking and packing................. .... 283.50 351.57 2.170
 Containers............................ 135.02 162.44 1.003
 Hauling................................. 29.59 37.09 0.229
 Selling....................... ....... ... 46.38 48.60 0.300

Total harvesting and marketing costs..... 494.49 599.70 3.702

Total costs.............................. 1117.91 1441.28 8.897

Net return............................... 139.77 128.50 0.793