GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN COLORADO. 



45 



with, an average distance of 0.8 mile increased the cost 15 cents per 

 ton. If the grower obtained an average return of 12 tons per acre, 

 this difference would make a total increase of $1.80 per acre. As 

 the distance increased, the cost per acre increased throughout all of 

 the groups. Only two records were obtained in group No. 5, hence 

 it would scarcely be fair to compare this group with No. 1, in which 

 93 men reported on hauling a distance of approximately 1 mile. It 

 may be observed, however, that the average cost for group 5, with a 

 12-ton yield, would be $3.36 per acre more than the cost involved in 

 hauling beets under the conditions stated for group No. 1. 



COST OF PRODUCING SUGAR BEETS. 



The total cost figures were classified and compiled under three 

 distinct divisions, viz, (1) labor, (2) materials, and (3) other costs. 

 In computing the various costs a weighted average was used. The 

 cost per acre was found by dividing the total costs by the number 

 of acres grown, and the cost per ton by dividing by the total num- 

 ber of tons produced. 



LABOR COSTS. 



The operators ' labor, horse labor, and contract labor, when added 

 together', gave the total labor costs for the respective districts in 

 1914 and 1915. This also includes man labor hired by the day or by 

 the month. The rate per hour, or the contract rate used in obtain- 

 ing the final results, has been explained fully in connection with the 

 practice of growing beets. 



Table XXIV. — Labor costs for three Colorado districts. 



District. 



Year. 



Number 

 of farm 

 records. 



Total 

 acres in 

 beets. 



Cost per 

 acre. 



Cost per 

 ton. 



Greeley 



Fort Alorgan 

 Rocky Ford. 



1914-15 



1915 

 1914-15 



195 5,028.40 

 66 2,455.50 

 106 i 2,428.95 



&39.17 

 37.00 

 38.34 



$2.53 

 2.71 

 2.95 



The highest labor cost per acre ($39.17) was reported for the Greeley 

 area (Table XXIV) . Fort Morgan growers were $2.17 per acre below 

 this average, but it will be seen that the average cost per ton was 

 greater for Fort Morgan than for Greeley. Yield per acre was the 

 factor that controlled the cost per ton in these districts. 



In discussing these labor costs, it should be borne in mind that the 

 hand work or the contract labor constituted a considerable propor- 

 tion of the total labor costs. The standard contract rate for districts 

 in northern Colorado was $18 per acre, plus a bonus of 25 cents per 

 ton for each ton over an average yield of 12 tons per acre. For a 

 15-ton average this would necessitate the payment of $18.75 per acre. 

 If all the growers represented in the Greeley district had paid for the 



