2019 fall farm

Page 34 2019 Logan County Farm Outlook Magazine Lincoln Daily News Nov. 1, 2019 When one can’t pronounce the words in the ingredient list on a can of green beans, Bauer feels that is cause for concern, and she wants her family to avoid those chemicals whenever possible. Many people feel the same way, so buying fresh local is going to be a trend that will probably continue to grow. But is it a viable option on the production side? If you look at the gross figures, they are eye-popping. One acre of land has the potential to produce 12,000 ears of sweetcorn. According to Texas A & M AgriLife Extension’s report on Small Acreage Horticultural Crops, the cost of growing sweetcorn is about $1,000 per acre up to harvest, with additional costs incurred based on how it will be sold. Selling in bulk or by the ear at a market stand on the farm is going to be the least expensive with overhead costs being the cost of the stand itself and labor to man it. Crating and shipping to retail outlets is going to add to the cost for the containers and labor to pack and deliver the product. Sweet corn can be machine harvested, which cuts down on labor costs compared to other vegetable crops. The bottom line comes out with an estimated profitability of $1,200 per acre maximum. Using the Texas A&M math, a small farm can clear as much as $30,000 on a 25 acre plot of sweetcorn. The Texas A&M also has figures on growing tomatoes. For whole sale production, the report estimates that five acres of tomato plants will suffice. With five acres, the net Continue 8