Comparison Of Costs

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30128, 11 May 1963, Page 7

Comparison Of Costs

In 1926 the "Journal of Agriculture" published a survey of potato growing on 130 farms in Canterbury At a recent field day a comparison of production costs then and today was given. Although there have been changes in varieties and values, t.ne majority of the problems are the same toddy In 1926 tl.e total production was about the same as now but the population ate mo-re—ls7lb a head, compared with 1001 b today In ' 1926 there was also a surplus orcblem and 16.500 tons were exported to Australia Ito a market which was as i vanable and as difficult as - now It was not considered . profitable tn 1926 to export to l Australia until the Sydney -once reached £lO a ton

The survey quoted average table potato prices tn Canterbury at £4 Ils 4d a ton and seed £2 17s Id a ton Only 40 per cent, of the growers to the survey used manure averaging 3cwt an acre and the weight of seed planted varied from Bcwt to 20cwi and averaged IScwt an acre

Tite average cost of production was £2 7s Id a ton and the average yield of 718 tons cost £2O 16s to produce On the credit side the average yield of 5.44

tons of table potatoes an acre realised £24 17s 4d and 1.74 tons of seed returned £4 19s 2d This gave an average net profit of £9 6s 6d. About a quarter of the growers in the survey were estimated to have produced at a loss. Some with lower than average yields had higher costs. Costs included £4 7s 6d ar. acre for cultivation, planting and moulding £8 15s 6d for digging and carting to sheds: £2 4s for cartage to rail; £2 5s for seed; 8s for manure; £2 2s for interest on land 16 per cent on £36 an aerei; and 8s fo. rates, taxes and upkeep Average cost of production an acre of five Malvern growers in the 1961-62 season was £ 162 15s. based on yields of 4J tons of table 51 tons of seed and i ton of roughs This was made up of £lO for rent. £4O for seed. £2 for dipping and certification, £3 for cultivation. £2 10s for fertiliser. £6 for rogue mg. moulding and in-ter-row cultivation and spraying. £ 19 15s for sacks £32 for digging and picking, £2O for grading £l2 10s for cartage. £6 15s for levy. £6 15s for f.o.b charges and £1 10s for tolls and incidentals.