38 



DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES 



enterprises, and the efficiency of operation reflected in the costs can not 

 be duplicated on the usual individual holdings. The bank budget 

 figures presented in Table 12 likewise must be given less weight for the 

 purposes of this inquiry than those of the Extension Service, because 

 the holdings for which they have been made are in process of financial 

 readjustment, during which time some items are usually neglected, 

 and because the centralized administration of the propertj' should 

 result in savings which individual farmers can not accomplish. The 

 figures given in Table 13 and revised in Table 14 are substantially 

 higher than those shoAvn by the 84 Agricultural Extension Service 

 records, but it should be remembered that the Farm Management Sec- 

 tion figures are intended to represent certain definite conditions which 

 can not be expected to be reflected in averages of a large number of 

 individual records. 



After considering the general conditions and hazards in the deciduous 

 fruit industry and the consequent need for conservatism, it is believed 

 the averages shown in Tables 11 and 12 should not be used as a basis 

 for conclusions, but that the average shown by the 84 Agricultural 

 Extension Service records should even be increased. The basis for this 

 increase is the higher costs presented by the Farm Management Section 

 and the need for adding to the amount allowed for spraying. The 

 average amount spent for spraying in the Tulare area is between $5 

 and $6 an acre. It is the recommendation of specialists that this figure 

 should not be less than $14. For purposes of this report the average of 

 the Tulare County records has been raised to the round figure of $105 

 an acre for total pre-harvest costs and fixed charges. 



Starting in, then, with a total pre-harvest cost, together with fixed 

 charges, amounting to $105 an acre. Table 15 has been prepared to show 

 the cost with harvesting included. The table covers a range of yield 

 of from five to twelve tons per acre. Harvesting costs are added at 

 rates varying from $5.50 a ton for yields of five tons to $4.50 a ton for 

 yields of twelve tons. 



TABLE 15 



AVERAGE COST PER ACRE OF PRODUCING AND HARVESTING PEACHES IN 



TULARE COUNTY 



Cost of production taken at $105 an acre; hnryrstinK figured at from $5.50 a ton for yields of five tons 

 to $4.50 a ton for yields of twelve tons per acre. 



Income from Peaches and Amount Available for Irrigation Water Charges. 



Table IG shows llie income per acre with a yield of five to twelve tons 

 per acre and a selling i)rice of $20 to $50 a ton f . o. b. at the local 

 delivery point. 



