Table 25. WATERMELONS: 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 Cwt.

 Yield (cwt.) 306 210

 Total receipts........................... $1843.68 $1449.00 $6.900
 Operating costs
 Seed .... ..... .. ..... .................. 10.04 20.79
 Fertilizer............................. 211.63 259.19
 Spray and dust......................... 117.41 201.30
 Cultural labor ....... ............. 141.44 209.03
 Machine hire........................... 102.24 155.99
 Gas, oil, grease...... ................ 46.16 105.98
 Repair and maintenance................. 50.03 82.55
 Interest on production
 capital (17% 5 months)............. 33.20 83.70
 Miscellaneous expense.................. 16.98 20.92
Total operating costs.................... 729.13 1139.45 5.426
Fixed costs
 Land rent............................. 44.08 73.58
 Depreciation........................... 37.91 74.42
 Licenses and insurance................. 37.59 52.38
 Interest on investment................. 6.40 10.54
Total fixed costs........................ 125.98 210.92 1.004
Harvesting and marketing costs
 Cutting........ ...... ................. 96.52 90.18 0.429
 Grading and packing.................... 77.33 81.76 0.389
 Containers............................ 15.80 16.18 0.077
 Hauling....*......................... 131.23 134.91 0.642
 Selling................................ 77.23 95.70 0.456
Total harvesting and marketing costs..... 398.11 418.73 1.994
Total costs................. ........... 1253.22 1769.10 8.424
Net return.............................. 590.46 -320.10 -1.524