Cost of Producing Beets 



235 



This study covered practically every beet-producing 

 section in the United States. Estimated costs were ob- 

 tained from many farmers in each district. These are 

 summarized by states in Fig. 28. Since the data were 

 carefully collected and compiled, they may be considered 



Fig. 28. — DiaRram of costs involved in producing sugar-beets in 

 various states. (Compiled from Report of the Federal Trade Commis- 

 Bion, May 24, 1917.) 



to be approximately correct for the districts and for the 

 costs during that year (1913) at least. The figure shows 

 the cost, including the following items : soil preparation, 

 hand labor, planting and cultivating, lifting and hauling, 

 fertilizing, seed, and irrigation ; but it omits the rental 

 value of the land and depreciation of machinery, ditches, 

 fences, and the like. The item of land rent is important 

 in considering cost of production, for it is ordinarily from 

 one-sixth to one-fourth of the value of the crop. That the 



