Table 19. SQUASH: Costs and returns per acre in the Immokalee-Lee area, 5-
 season average 1977-81 and 1981-82


 1977-81 1981-82 Season
 average per

Category Acre Acre Bushel


Yield (bushels)


198


184


Total receipts.......................... $1596.43 $1782.96 $9.690
Operating costs
 Seed................................... 30.20 33.79
 Fertilizer .......................... 141.29 173.16
 Spray and dust......................... 66.71 77.50
 Cultural labor......................... 107.06 127.03
 Machine hire........................... 20.43 24.54
 Gas, oil, grease...... ............... 44.64 63.25
 Repair and maintenance................. 35.26 39.58
 Interest on production
 capital (17% 4 months)............. 18.24 37.78
 Miscellaneous expense.................. 17.51 26.42
Total operating costs.................... 481.34 603.05 3.277
Fixed costs
 Land rent.............................. 38.99 53.34
 Depreciation.......................... 29.01 30.89
 Licenses and insurance................. 36.62 48.06
 Interest on investment................. 4.81 4.38
Total fixed costs........................ 109.43 136.67 0.743
Harvesting and marketing costs
 Picking........... ..................... 204.39 272.76 1.482
 Grading and packing.................... 147.29 160.25 0.871
 Containers............................. 173.27 212.44 1.155
 Hauling............. .................. 45.73 42.55 0.231
 Selling .... ........ ................... 71.20 94.02 0.511
Total harvesting and marketing costs..... 641.88 782.02 4.250
Total costs.......... ................... 1232.65 1521.74 8.270
Net return............................... 363.78 261.22 1.420