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 Morgan 
Rocky Ford . 
1914-15 
1915 
1914-15 
195 5,028.40 
66 2,455.50 
106 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 
