120 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 
Island factories, as collected by the Nebraska beet sugar association, and published in 
its Hastings proceedings for 1896. The area harvested by each grower was from 8 to 
80 acres, averaging about 18 acres to each farmer, exclusive of one who raised 455 acres 
and another with 174 acres. At the time of the Hastings convention, Nov 17, about 
half these beets had been delivered to the factory, the balance being ensiled for de- 
livery later. The reported yield was 17,924 tons from the 1442 acres, or an average of 
i2} tons per acre, ranging from 8 to 20 tons per acre—the larger yields upon the smaller 
tracts. The proceeds for beets sold were estimated at $90,016, or $62.40 per acre. This 
was based on $5 per ton for beets, of which $4 was paid by the factory and $1 was 
claimed under the state bounty offer. If the latter is not paid, the gross proceeds 
are about $12.50 per acre less, averaging just about an even $50 per acre. The ex- 
penses reported average $36.88 per acre, leaving average net profits of $13 per acre, 
as follows: 
Per acre For 1442 acres 
Cost of seed, - $3.00 $4,363 
Rent of land, - 3.96 5,708 
Value of all labor, - - 25.56 36,976 
Other expenses, - - 4.36 6,302 
Total expenses, - - $36.88 $53,349 
Profits, - $13.12 $18,751 
Total receipts at $4 per ton, - - $50.00 $72,100 
This shows an average cost of just about $3 per ton of beets delivered to the fac- 
tory, including wagon haul and railroad freight, on a crop of 124 tons per acre, over 
nearly 1500 acres in various sections of Nebraska, and representing all sorts of culture 
and soii. Closer analysis of the returns shows that the larger yields of the more 
careful cultivators were produced at a cost of $2 to $2.50, and in one or two instances 
even less. It is to be regretted that these figures are based on estimates at close of 
season, not upon actual accounts, though our inquiries indicate that the items of cost 
are above the actual, if anything. 
It is to be remembered, however, that the foregoing figures are for an exception- 
ally favorable season. They are based upon the experiences of the better growers 
also—intelligent men, experts, of several years’ experience; the other kind, who most 
need its help, don’t attend the beet growers’ meetings. Even the best men could not 
make so good a showing for the unfavorable year of 1895. Yet here are the figures 
for the ’95 crop upon 40 acres grown by Pettinger Brothers at Albion, Boone county, 
Neb: 
EXPENSES. PROCEEDS. 
Seed for 40 acres, $107.00 5773, tons dressed beets over 
Hand work at $12 per acre, 480.00 12% sugar 80 purity at $5 
Extra labor, 150.00 per ton of 2000 Ibs, $2888.33 
Topping beets at $3 per acre, 120.00 461, tons inferior at $2.50, 115.83 
Freight at 80c per ton, 538.40 Received for siloing 258 tons at 30c, 77.34 
Total, $1399.40 Total, - $3081.50 
Deducting the expenses reported ($1399.40) from the gross proceeds ($3081.50), there is left $1682.10 
as the net return for the team work, use of land, pay for superintendence and profit. This is $42 per 
acre for these items on a crop that dressed nearly 15 tons per acre, when sold at $5. This price includes 
the $1 state bounty. Deducting that, or $15 per acre, leaves $27. A detailed statement of Pettinger 
Brothers’ experience is printed on Pages 126-127. 
Mr R. M. Allen, president of the Nebraska beet sugar growers’ association and 
of the American sugar growers’ society, says that the result of his six years’ experi- 
ence is that ‘‘The cost of growing beets to farmers in Nebraska is from a minimum of 
