Cumulative net returns (thousands/acre) 



1992 



1993 



Figure 1. Cumulative net returns of three peach training 

 systems. Dotted lines are projected net returns based on 

 projected costs and returns for 1993 and 1994. 



approximately $20 per hour but varied depending on 

 the equipment used. Trees cost $5. Thinning, 

 picking, packaging, and selling were assumed to cost 

 $0,013, $0.04, $0,025, and $0,025 per pound of fruit, 

 respectively. Yields were valued at $0. 75 per pound. 



For the first three seasons, central-leader trees 

 were more costly to maintain than either of the other 

 systems: total costs were $2108, $2925, and $2153 

 for the open center, central leader, and delayed open 

 center, respectively. The difference came primarily 

 from the greater establishment costs, which ac- 

 counted for more than 80 percent of the difference 

 between the central leader and the other systems. 



During the third growing season (1992), trees in 

 this trial yielded significantly. Yield per tree was 

 related directly to canopy size, with the delayed open 



center yielding the most and the open 

 center yielding the least per tree (8, 

 10, and 13 pounds per tree for the 

 open center, central leader, and de- 

 layed open center, respectively). Once 

 tree density was accounted for, the 

 open-center, central-leader, and de- 

 layed-open-center systems yielded 

 945, 2234, and 1588 pounds of fruit 

 per acre, respectively. The returns 

 for the central leader systems were 

 considerably greater than for the 

 other systems. 



At this point in the trial, it is 

 possible to say that the additional 

 costs of planting the higher density 

 central-leader system have been com- 

 pensated for by the higher yields in 

 the third season. Figure 1 presents 

 the cumulative net returns from these 

 systems and shows a projection of 

 cumulative net returns for the fourth 

 and fifth growing seasons (1993 and 

 1994). For these early years, the 

 central-leader trees should out-pro- 

 duce the other systems because of 

 their higher density of planting, and 

 therefore, likely will net over $2,000 

 per acre cumulatively by the end of 

 the fourth growing season and nearly 

 $10,000 per acre by the end of the 

 fifth growing season. The other two 

 systems likely will net less than half 

 that amount by the end of the fifth 

 growing season. 



This information is not enough, 

 however, to determine the ideal sys- 

 tem for growing peaches in southern 

 New England. These trees must be 

 followed to maturity and beyond to determine long- 

 term differences in costs and returns. 



References 



Fuller, E., W. Lazarus, and L. Carrigan. 1991. 

 Minnesota Farm Machinery Economic Costs for 1991. 

 Minnesota Extension Service AG-FO-2308-C. 



Mizelle, W. O., Jr. and G. O. Westberry. 1989. Cost 

 analysis, pp. 6-12. In: S. C. Meyers (ed.) Peach 

 Production Handbook. University of Georgia Coop- 

 erative Extension Service Handbook 1. 



White, G. B. and A. DeMarree. 1992. Economics of 

 Apple Orchard Planting Systems. Cornell Coopera- 

 tive Extension Bulletin 227. 



1994 



8 



Fruit Notes, Summer, 1993 



