True cost of cultivation vs herbicides

Andrew McGuire (amcguire@unlvm.unl.edu)
Wed, 24 Jun 1998 14:19:31 -0500

I have come across a Cooperative Extension fact sheet that addresses the
"true cost of cultivation." It deals specifically with grain sorghum, in
both wet and dry years, and comes up with a cost of $28.17/ac in a dry year
and $12.14/acre in a wet year for a single row crop cultivation. The
difference is the moisture stress caused by the cultivation in the dry
year-7 bu/ac. It also lists as a cost the 50% loss to 2.5% of the field
in the "field end turn around area." Does anyone know of any similar
component costs for applying herbicides, the possible yield reduction by
application of herbicides, and similar estimates for corn and soybeans?

I realize this is not the whole picture in controlling weeds but the fact
sheet probably is used to compare a $20/acre application of herbicide with
the $28/acre cultivation. A few facts might help make a better comparison
of herbicides vs cultivation, at least with the cost aspects of the
practices.

Thanks,

Andy McGuire, Extension Educator
amcguire@unlvm.unl.edu
P.O. Box 736 office 402-254-2289
Hartington NE 68739 fax 402-254-6891
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension

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