Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 1

Transcription

1 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 1 Ronald P. Muraro 2 This year's annual questionnaire surveys were conducted via the U.S. Postal Service from February 2001 through April Thirty-three citrus caretakers participated in the Ridge area survey, and 25 citrus caretakers participated in the Indian River-South Florida area survey. Cooperatives (and their members) and growers performing their own cultural practices were not surveyed. The author expresses sincere thanks to those caretakers and their staffs who took time from their busy schedules to report their custom charges. rates for growers who are members of cooperatives and costs for growers who conduct their own cultural practices may differ from the survey's caretaker rate averages. For more detailed information on custom rates and other citrus production cost data for and previous years, please contact either the author or your local county extension citrus specialist. Caretakers answering the Ridge area survey reported servicing 66,507 acres planted to citrus, or 2,463 acres per caretaker (Table 1). This represents approximately 19.6 percent of the total acreage planted in the Ridge area. The Indian River-South Florida area participants serviced 59,662 total acres, or 3,977 acres per caretaker (Table 2). This represents approximately 14.3 percent of the Indian River-South Florida area's citrus acreage. A majority of the Indian River-South Florida growers conduct their own cultural practices. The itemized custom rates (expressed as the low and high rates reported) and the rate average for the 2001 survey are the most current available. Custom 1. This is document FE 294, a publication of the Department of Food and Resource Economics, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Published September Please visit the EDIS website at 2. Ronald P. Muraro, professor and farm management economist, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Citrus Research and Education Center, Lake Alfred, FL, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. For information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office. Florida Cooperative Extension Service/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences/University of Florida/Christine Taylor Waddill, Dean.

2 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 2 Herbicide (strip/band-double boom) z Acre Plus materials; $32.37/hour average Table 1. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 33 Ridge citrus caretakers. CULTIVATION AND EQUIPMENT Hand Hoe/Hand Labor Hour $ 9.00 $ $ Plus transportation Mechanic Labor Hour Includes truck Rotovate Hour Disc 7 feet Hour Disc 7 feet Acre One-way discing Disc 9-10 feet Hour Disc 9-10 feet Acre One-way discing Chop Hour Chop Acre One-way chopping Mow 5-7 feet Hour Mow 9-12 feet Hour Mow 5-7 feet Acre Mow 9-12 feet Acre Mow feet Acre Herbicide (strip/band-single boom) z Hour Plus materials Herbicide (strip/band-single boom) z Acre Plus materials

3 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 3 Temik z Acre Plus materials; $7.50/acre Flatbed Transport Truck with Driver Hour ,875 /miles/year average; $87.50/trip average 500 GPA Acre $35.00/acre 250 GPA Acre $30.00/acre Table 1. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 33 Ridge citrus caretakers. Herbicide (piggy back appliance) z Acre Plus materials Herbicide (chemical mow) z Acre Plus materials Plow Hour Deviner Hour Bush Hog Hour Pickup Truck with Driver Hour ,5537 miles/year/pickup average Low-Boy Transport Hour Tractor with Driver Hour Water/Supply Truck Hour SPRAYING z Tree-See Air Blast Sprayer (engine driven) $115/hour // Curtec Soraver 22 GPA Engine Driven Airblast Spray 250 GPA (1,000 gallon tanks) AIR BLAST SPRAYER Engine Driven PTO Powered Tree See Technology

4 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys GPA Acre $25.00/acre 100 GPA Acre $22.50/acre Inject Liquid Fertilizer into Irrigation System Acre $60.00/irrigation injection hookup average Liquid Boom Application (double boom) Acre $14.25/acre average per single boom Microsprinkler $3.25/acre, $25.00/month, $19.29/trip Start/stop and supervision (truck & driver) Microsprinkler Hour Start/stop and supervison (truck & driver) Table 1. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 33 Ridge citrus caretakers. Aerial (Bell-47 helicopter) 5 GPA; 10 GPA; 15 GPA; GPA FERTILIZER AND SOIL AMENDMENTS z Inject Liquid Fertilizer into Irrigation System Hour Truck plus labor Dry (bulk) Acre $29.70/hour average Lime or Dolomite Acre Lime or Dolomite Ton Fertilize Young Trees z Hand Spread Hour Plus transportation and materials Fertilizer Spreader Hour Plus materials; $6.87/acre average IRRIGATION Freeze Protection with Irrigation $45.00 per night per system / $25.00 per night per system

5 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 5 ATV with Driver Hour Check/repair microsprinkler irrigation system Tree Shearing (cutting tree at ground level) Hour trees/hour average for tree sheared Front End Loader Hour trees/hours average for trees removed General Pruning (Rehab) Per Tree Depends on trees/acre requiring pruning Table 1. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 33 Ridge citrus caretakers. Ring Young Trees Hand Labor Hour Labor plus equipment Mechanical Hour Ditch Mower Hour REMOVING TREES Bulldozer Hour PRUNING Power Saw with Operator Hour Plus transportation Limb Lifter/Tree Skirt Timmer (double sided) Hour acres per one pass Hedging Single Side (tractor mounted) Hour acres/hour Single Side (tractor pulled) Hour Double Side (tractor mounted) Hour acres/hour

6 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 6 Double Side (self propelled) x Hour acres/hour, depending on wood size Double Side (self propelled) x Hour acres/hour, depending on wood size Self Propelled Hour acres/hour (roof top)/5-20 acres/hour (flat top) Double Boom (self propelled) Hour acres/hour (roof top)/15-30 acres/hour (flat top) Haul Brush Out of Grove Hour $48.75/hour average (2 people with truck/tractor) Table 1. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 33 Ridge citrus caretakers. Double Side (tractor pulled) Hour Topping Tractor Mounted Hour Tractor Pulled Hour acres/hour Tractor Pulled Hour Self Propelled Hour Removing Brush Front End Loader (push brush) Hour acres/hour Chop/Mow Brush Hour acres/hour, $8.00/acre average COLD PROTECTION Mechanical Hour Install Wraps Hour

7 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 7 Table 1. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 33 Ridge citrus caretakers. OTHER CUSTOM RATES Plant Tree Resets Tree Stake, plant, and first watering Solid Set Planting Tree Stake, plant, and first watering Travel/Set-up Charge Hour Reporting average Grove Management Charge/Month Supervising grove care operations Acre In addition to caretaking charges Handling Fruit Marketing Box % of gross, $40/acre annually Supervising/Handling Chemicals/Fertilizer 10-20% of materials cost Personnel Charges $0.05-$0.18/box, $0.11/box average (harvesting operations & labor compliance records) Consulting $50-$100/hour, $50/hour average (cultural management/horticultural evaluation/financial analysis prospectus) Total Acreage-Provided Grove Service to Acre ,498 2,463 Source: Ronald P. Muraro, professor, Citrus Research and Education Center, Lake Alfred, FL. June z Plus materials. Caretakers reporting rates include labor, tractor, and sprayer. Supply truck included by most caretakers. y Calculated by dividing total caretakers reporting a grove practice rate into sum reported. Unless otherwise stated, labor included with all charges. x Low acres = two years regrowth hedging; high acres = annual maintenance hedging.

8 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 8 Herbicide (strip/band-double boom) z Acre Plus materials; $36.93/hour average Table 2. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 25 Indian River and South Florida citrus caretakers. CULTIVATION AND EQUIPMENT Hand Labor Hour $ $ $ Plus transportation and equipment Mechanic Labor Hour Labor and service truck Rotovate Hour Disc 7-8 feet Hour Disc 10 feet Hour Mow (Off-set or side mower) Hour Mow 7-8 feet Hour Mow 7-8 feet Acre Mow 9-10 feet Hour Mow 9-10 feet Acre Mow feet Hour $8.00/acre average V-Mower Hour $8.25/acre average Sickle Mower Hour Herbicide (strip/band-single boom) z Hour Herbicide (strip/band-single boom) z Acre Plus materials Herbicide (chemical mow) z Acre Plus materials Temik z Acre Plus materials Plow Hour

9 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 9 Flatbed Transport Truck with Driver Hour ,225 miles/year/transport truck average Hand Sprayer Hour Tractor and handgun sprayer plus 2 men 500 GPA Acre $37.44/acre PTO 250 GPA Acre $29.67/acre PTO 125 GPA Acre $23.53/acre PTO Table 2. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 25 Indian River and South Florida citrus caretakers. Backhoe Hour Vine Puller Hour Middle Buster Hour With tractor and driver Mound Builder Hour With tractor and driver Grader Blade Hour With tractor/blade and driver Bush Hog Hour Water Truck with Driver Hour Pickup Truck with Driver Hour ,880 miles/year/pickup average Tractor with Driver Hour ATV with Driver Hour SPRAYING z AIR BLAST SPRAYER Engine Driven PTO Powered Tree See Technology 100 GPA Acre Curtec (25 GPA) Acre GPA

10 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 10 Inject Liquid Fertilizer Hour Truck plus labor; one reporting $30/setting Hand Spread Hour Plus transportation; one reporting $0.10/tree Table 2. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 25 Indian River and South Florida citrus caretakers. Aerial Fixed Wing 5 GPA Aerial Fixed Wing 10 GPA; Bell Helicopter 10 GPA Aerial Fixed Wing 15 GPA; Huie Helicopter 15 GPA Aerial Fixed Wing 20 GPA; Huie Helicopter 20 GPA (one reporting $0.13 fuel surchange because of current fuel prices) FERTILIZER AND SOIL AMENDMENTS z Liquid Boom Application Single Boom Acre Double Boom Acre Dry (bulk) Acre $33.25/hour average Lime or Dolomite Acre Fertilize Young Trees z Fertilizer Spreader Hour Plus materials IRRIGATION Ditch Mower Hour Water Furrow Disc Hour Water Furrow Sahper (non-laser Hour

11 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 11 Water Furrow Shaper (laser controlled) Hour One reporting $0.05/foot (single bed) Micropsprinrkler/Drip Irrigation Maintenance Acre Check and repair system; parts extra Microsprinkler $25.00/setting; $33.07/hour (truck & driver) Start/stop and supervison (truck & driver) Double Side (tractor pulled) Hour acres/hour, $14.50/acre average Double Side (self propelled) Hour acres/hour, $14.43/acre average Double Side Rotary Boom Hour acres/hour (bed top), add 25% furrows only (self propelled) x Table 2. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 25 Indian River and South Florida citrus caretakers. Rotary Ditcher or Auger Hour Water Slinger Hour REMOVING TREES Bulldozer Hour Catipillar Grader Hour Front End Loader Hour trees/hour average Tree Shearing (cutting tree at ground level) Hour trees/hour average PRUNING General Pruning (Rehab/Freeze Damage) Tree 3.50 Power Saw with Operator Hour Hedging Single Side (tractor pulled) Hour Single Side (tractor pulled) Acre Double Side (tractor mounted) Hour

12 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 12 Double Side Self Propelled Fixed Boom Hour acres/hour (bed top) Hedger x 8-20 acres/hour (bed top and furrow) Table 2. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 25 Indian River and South Florida citrus caretakers. Topping Tractor Pulled Hour acres/hour Tractor Pulled Hour acres/hour (roof top) acres/hour (flat top) Tractor Mounted Hour Double Sided Topper Hour acres/hour, $28/acre average Double boom (self propelled) Hour acres/hour (flat top) Double Sided (self propelled) Hour $23.13acre (flat top) Limb Lifter/Tree Skirt Trimmer Acre acres/hour Limb Lifter/Tree Skirt Trimmer Hour Removing Brush (front end loader) Haul Brush Out of Grove Hour Chop/Mow Brush Hour $8.00/acre average OTHER CUSTOM RATES Install Tree Wraps $0.10-$0.25 acres/hour, depending on wrap type and number of trees Plant Trees (solid set) Tree Varies as to density Plant Tree (resets) Tree Varies as to the number of resets Grove Management Charge/Month Supervising Grove Care Operations Acre In addition to caretaking charges

13 Summary of 2001 Ridge and Indian River-South Florida Citrus Caretaker Surveys 13 Handling Fruit Marketing $0.10-$0.25/box; $0.05/pound solids One reported $5/acre/month-supervising/managing Table 2. A listing of the year 2001 custom rates as reported by 25 Indian River and South Florida citrus caretakers. Supervising/handling chemicals/fertilizer 7-15% of materials cost; 12% average Personnel Charges $0.05-$0.18/box; $0.11/box average (harvesting operations & labor compliance records) Consulting $106.67/hour average (horticultural evaluation and/or financial analysis prospectus) Consulting $250/day (cultural management) Total Acreage-Provided Grove Service to Acre ,500 3,977 59,662 total acres Source: Ronald P. Muraro, professor, University of Florida, Citrus Research and Education Center, Lake Alfred, FL, June z Plus materials. Caretakers reporting rates include labor, tractor, and sprayer. Supply truck included by most caretakers. y Calculated by dividing total caretakers reporting a grove practice rate into sum reported. Unless otherwise stated, labor included with all charges. x Low acres = two years regrowth hedging; high acres = annual maintenance hedging.