[Syrupmakers] Cost of Growing Sorghum

[Ken Christison]

Interesting to see the difference in about 10 years.  This is apparently from
the UGA site.  Quite a difference in fuel and fertilizer costs;-)  Of course, we
never count our own labor in figuring the cost.  If we think about it too long, it
gets pretty depressing.

Take care.

Ken


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Richard Harrison 
To: syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net
Sent: 7/1/2008 9:37:21 AM 
Subject: [Syrupmakers] Cost of Growing Sorghum


Hi, everyone
    Here is someone's calculations of what it costs to grow and harvest sorghum for syrupmaking. I thought that it was so interesting that I decide to plagerize it and share it with you all. Hope I don't make anyone mad! I don't think it even includes the actual syrupmaking process of grinding and cooking and bottling. Now you can use this form to add to or subtract from to come up with your own "custom" estimate.

  TABLE 1. Estimated Per Acre Costs of Growing Sweet Sorghum 
      for Syrup; Strip and Hand Cut
     
      Cost Item Unit Price per Unit Total Cost 
      1. VARIABLE COSTS (excl. Labor)    
      
      Lime 1/3 Ton $22.00 $7.33 
      Seed 2 lbs. 7.50 15.00 
      Fertilizer (5-10-15) 4 cwt. 9.00 36.00 
      Herbicide (pre-emerge) 1 qt. 3.00 3.00 
      Herbicide (post-emerge) 1 pt. 2.00 2.00 
      Fuel 10.2 gal. .80 8.16 
      Machinery Maintenance 1 Acre 27.49 27.49 
      Interest on Variable Costs $98.98 .09 4.45 
      Sub - Total    $103.43 
      
      2. LABOR    
      
      Pre Harvest 4.3 hrs. 6.50 $27.95 
      Harvest 80 hrs. 6.50 520.00 
      Total Labor   $547.95 
      
      3. TOTAL VARIABLE COSTS    
      
      Excluding Labor   $103.43 
      Including Labor   $651.38 
      
      4. FIXED COSTS    
      
      Land 1 Acre 35.00 $35.00 
      Machinery 1 Acre 44.49 44.49 
      General Overhead $103.43 .05 5.17 
      Management $103.43 .05 5.17 
      Total Fixed Costs   $89.83 
      
      5. TOTAL PRODUCTION COSTS   $741.21 
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