Summary of Contract Growing in 1950 



THE PROCESSING company expanded its operations and offered con- 

 tracts in all counties of New Hampshire except Cheshire and Sullivan. 

 The company agreed to purchase all cucumbers grown on contracted acreage 

 at the rate of five cents per pound for Grade 1, three cents for Grade 2, 

 one and one-quarter cents for Grade 3, and one-half cent for Grade 4.* 



The processing company furnished transportation from pickup stations 

 in each area to the plant. Each grower had to truck his crop from the farm 

 to the puickup station daily. 



A brief study was made of these contract operations with two ob- 

 jectives in mind: 



1. To observe the methods used by producers, and to analyze the 

 data obtained in order to aid the growers in reducing costs. 



2. To cooperate with the growers and the processing industry by ob- 

 taining data and analyzing the possibilities of this intensive crop in meet- 

 ing the needs of under-employed rural families. 



The field man associated with this study visited approximately 100 

 growers in various parts of the state early in the season to observe the 

 cultural practices, obtain quantity data as to material and labor used prior 

 to harvest, and to arrange with a limited number of growers for detailed 

 records concerning the labor used in harvesting. 



A long, severe drought in July and early August checked the growth 

 of vines and it was evident that many fields would be abandoned. Later 

 observations made in the harvest period indicated that most growers were 

 discouraged with the returns from picking and either had or would soon 

 abandon their crops. The situation is indicated by the report from the 

 processing company at the end of the season: 186, or about half of the 

 contract signers, shipped less than S50 worth of cucumbers; 127, or about 

 cne-third, received from $50 to S200 for their shipments; only 53, or about 

 16 percent, of the growers received more than $200. A few had reasonably 

 good crops, four receiving more than $600 for their shipments. 



Due to the failure or partial failure of the crops on most farms, the 

 data obtained from 61 growers as to practices were not complete. 



While the drought was the major cause, other factors contributed to 

 the low yields. Observations in the field indicated that over half of the 

 contract signers had not followed good commercial practices and would 

 have had low yields even if the weather had been ideal. It was apparent 

 that many of the families on small part-time farms had not plowed and 

 fitted their fields properly. They had not applied adequate amounts of 

 fertilizer and they lacked experience and skill in growing the crop. 



A few who had grown the crop efficiently up to harvest had underesti- 

 mated the problem of picking, and even though yields were fairly good, the 



* Grade 1 — Straight, green, sound, and merchantable stock ranging in size up 

 to 1" in diameter. 



Grade 2 — Straight, green, sound, and merchantable stock ranging in size from 

 1" to IVi" in diameter. 



Grade 3 — Straight, green, sound, and merchantable stock ranging in size from 

 IVi" to P/^" in diameter. 



Grade 4 — Green, sound nubs, crooks, and bawls up to 2" in diameter. 



(The processing company furnished transportation from pickup stations in each 

 area to the plant. Each grower had to truck his crop from the farm to the pickup 

 station daily.) 



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