University of New Hampshire 



[Sta. Bull. 323 



llic labor roqniromonts may not roprosent out-of-poekot costs, and cer- 

 tain operators may need to treat the item of labor on a dill'erent basis. 

 However, in order to carry the budget analysis along, a fixed labor rate 

 of 40 cents an hour has been assumed. Some other rate, higher or lower, 

 eould have been assumed and individuals may need to adjust llio laboi- 

 curve to fit their conditions. It is assumed in the case of labor on fruit 

 that since a long period is involved the opportunity cost of the operator's 

 labor might ai)proximate 40 cents per hour. It is recognized that many 

 fruit men might find themselves in a position in which the orchai'd could 

 be carried along for several years without hired labor or loss of otiier in- 

 come. 



The total cost of materials and the estimated value of labor at 40 cents 

 per hour are shown in figure 3. Since the curves for labor and materials 

 are separate, the individual operator can easily adjust the cui've of total 

 cost to fit his particular condition. 



On the wdiole the lands used for fruit growing are not liigh in value 

 for alternative productive crop enterprises. However, fields represent- 

 ing good fruit sites may be associated with a farmstead in which alter- 

 nate use of the entire farm or pattern for summer or other purposes has 

 required a large investment, and the use of a particular site is not 

 available to an individual without purchase of the entire farm. Thus in- 

 dividuals have made sizable investments for orchard sites. For the pur- 

 poses of this study, these situations are ignored. 



In some instances potential orchard sites are margiiuil for otlier agri- 

 cultural uses. Such fields are in the twiliglit zone of uncertainty with 

 abandonment a strong possibility. If such a property is owned by an 



10 



15 



20 



45 



50 



35 



25 50 35 40 



Aat OF Ttects 

 FiciURE 3. — An.ntal C'ost of Lai:()U, .Mai kiuai.s and Lani) for 

 1000 Permanent Trees (Planted 27 to the Acre). 



60 



