Horticultural production costs

Erorganic@aol.com
Mon, 23 Feb 1998 08:54:47 EST

Hello Karen,
Horticultural Production Costs:
I have worked them out and they remain in the folder having never been
published. As we might anticipate, efficiency in biological management, labor
management and mechanisms is everything. I adjusted them for three levels of
efficiency, but even that does not do very well because of all the variables
from farm to farm within the three categories listed above. (And marketing
and market development are not even included normally.)

Of concern, interest on investment, taxes, pro-rated analysis of
capitalization all come into play and are extremely variable. And than as I
neared the end of compiling my data 5 years ago, I reached the conclusion it
is only the method of analysis that is needed down on the farm. Facilitate
the farmers to do it themselves.

But then it cycles around to the question what are some other farms' costs of
production? If their cost is lower than mine, how do they do it?
What are we really out to supply the farmer when we document cost of
production? Comparisons of cost effectiveness of various ways of production?
I think we are back to identifying the most overall efficient systems of
organic farm types of production in a particuliar climate and geography. So,
take the details of what needs to be included in the analysis, the method of
analysis, and apply it to any farm or a number of farms in a geographical and
climatic area. Let the farmers compare between themselves has become my
answer.

Best, Eric

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