UC Agricultural Issues Center has released three new studies, one on the cost and returns of establishing an orchard and producing fresh market plums, and the cost and returns of establishment and production of dried-on-vine (DOV) raisins under two different trellis systems.
The cost and returns are multi-year studies based on hypothetical farm operations of well-managed orchards and vineyards, using practices common to the San Joaquin Valley. Growers, UC ANR Cooperative Extension farm advisors and other agricultural associates provided input and reviewed the methods and findings of the studies.
The plum study, using double-line drip irrigation, estimates costs from orchard establishment through the production years. The economic life of the orchard used in this cost analysis is 18 years.
The DOV raisin establishment and production cost studies are under different trellis systems; overhead trellis system (OHTS) and open gable trellis system (OGTS). The two separate DOV raisin studies use single-line drip irrigation. The economic life of the vineyards used in these cost analysis is 30 years.
The authors describe the assumptions used to identify current costs for each crop, material inputs, cash and non-cash overhead. A ranging analysis table shows net returns over a range of prices and yields. Other tables show the monthly cash costs, the costs and returns per acre, hourly equipment costs, and the whole farm annual equipment, investment and business overhead costs.
The new studies are titled:
- Sample Costs to Establish an Orchard and Produce Fresh Market Plums in the San Joaquin Valley – South- 2016
- Sample Costs to Establish a Vineyard and Produce DOV Raisins (OGTS) in the San Joaquin Valley - 2016
- Sample Costs to Establish a Vineyard and Produce DOV Raisins (OHTS) in the San Joaquin Valley - 2016
Free copies of these studies and other sample cost of production studies for many commodities are available online. To download the cost studies, visit the UC Agricultural Issues Center Cost Studies website at http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu.
The cost and returns program is funded by the UC Agricultural Issues Center, which is part of UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the UC Davis Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
For additional information or an explanation of the calculations used in the studies, contact Donald Stewart through the UC Agricultural Issues Center at (530) 752-4651 or destewart@ucdavis.edu. Contact UC Cooperative Extension advisors through the local UCCE office http://ucanr.edu/County_Offices
- Posted By: Stephen J. Vasquez
- Written by: Pete Christensen, Stephen Vasquez and Matthew Fidelibus
Rain is predicted for this Tuesday and Wednesday, October 4-5, 2011. Should rain occur, follow these practices to minimize damage and infestation to raisins:
Tray-dried raisins
• Slip trays to prevent their sticking to the soil. Move them just enough, 1 to 2 inches, to break the seal between the paper and the soil. This interrupts the wicking of moisture from the soil into the tray.
• Turn the trays as soon as possible to expose bottom fruit.
• Do not save fruit stuck to the bottom of trays or mix it with other fruit. Use new trays as needed, or reverse old trays at turning by putting the soil side next to the raisins (but only if soil is not sticking to the underside of the tray) and leaving stuck fruit on the outside.
• Pick moldy or rotten fruit off the tray before rolling. This is the best opportunity to reduce moldy fruit by hand.
• Get rolled fruit out of the field as soon as possible. Do not fill bins with raisins above 18 percent moisture. Use half-filled bins at 18 to 20 percent moisture. Sweat boxes are suitable for raisins up to 20 percent moisture; half-fill them with raisins between 20 and 22 percent moisture. Begin on-farm or commercial drying as dictated by moisture. Immediate drying is needed when raisin moisture exceeds 22 percent.
DOV raisins
• Raisins that are dry enough to be harvested should be removed from the vineyard. DOV raisins that do get rained on will pick up moisture. However, depending on the weather after the rain event, they will dry down to their previous moisture but may need 1 to 2 additional weeks to meet delivery standards. Late season rain events will greatly reduce the chances of naturally drying the fruit. Growers should make arrangements with a packer or dehydrator to finish drying the fruit. NOTE: DOV fruit is sensitive to excessive handling and should be delivered to a packer as soon as possible.
Boxing and Delivery
• Watch for spoilage in boxed raisins. Dump fruit over and spread into more containers at first signs of spoilage.
• Run fruit across a shaker, if possible, to reduce insect infestation and to provide another chance to pick out mold. Do not run fruit with too many uncured berries over a shaker.
• Cover tightly with polyethylene during rainy, foggy, or humid weather. Otherwise, raisins will absorb moisture directly from the air. Use paper covering, such as tar-impregnated paper, underneath the plastic to prevent water condensation.
• Deliver the raisins as soon as possible to the packer so that they can be fumigated.
Commercial washing and drying (wet reconditioning) may be necessary to further remove mold and embedded sand. The service is offered by many packers and most commercial dehydrators. The need can be determined by a USDA inspection.