GROWING SUGAR, BEETS IN COLORADO. 51 
Table XXIX.— Average returns and margin above cost in -producing sugar beets, 1914-15. 
Yield per 
acre. 
Receipts, 
beets and 
tops per 
acre. 
Cost per 
acre. 
Margin per acre. 
District. 
Beets. 
Tops. 
Total. 
15.57 
13.65 
12.99 
$92.44 
81.66 
67.36 
$72. 53 
65.00 
64.87 
$16. 93 
12.70 
-.12 
$2.98 
3.96 
2.61 
$19. 91 
16.66 
2.49 
During the years 1914-15 the 195 Greeley farmers represented in 
this study received an average price of $5.74 per ton for sugar beets. 
The 66 Fort Morgan growers were paid $5.69 per ton as an average 
for the year 1915. The 106 Rocky Ford growers realized $4.87 per 
ton as an average for the crop years 1914-15. In the latter district 
the beet crop was grown at a loss, provided no credit is given for 
beet tops. This by-product had an estimated value of $2.61 per 
acre, and when this was considered there was a margin of $2.49 per 
acre. Greeley growers secured a margin of almost $17 per acre on 
sugar beets alone. The sugar beets were sold largely on the basis of 
sugar content. Selling beets on a percentage basis involved the use 
of a sliding scale. 1 
SUMMARY OF COSTS BY TENURE. 
The records for the three Colorado districts were classified by 
tenure, and cost figures were compiled for three groups, namely, 
owners, renters, and owners renting additional land. In the three 
districts there were 155 owners, 182 renters and 30 owners renting 
additional land, the latter mostly in the Greeley district. The dis- 
tribution of these farms with the costs for each group is given in 
Table XXX. 
1 This method is illustrated in the following scale, adopted by one of the sugar companies for the 1915 
crop (northern Colorado): 
Scale of prices adopted by a Colorado sugar company in 1915. 
Price paid for beets per 
Sugar content. 
Price paid for beets per 
ton. 
Sugar content. 
ton. 
Minimum. 
Maximum. 
Minimum. 
Maximum. 
$5 
Per cent. 
12 
14 
14.5 
15 
15.5 
16 
Per cent. 
14 
14.5 
15 
15.5 
16 
16.5 
$5.875 
Per cent. 
16.5 
17 
17.5 
18 
18.5 
19 
Per cent. 
17 
$5.125 
$6 
17.5 
$5.25 
$6 125 
18 
$5.50 
$6.25. 
18.5 
$5.625.. 
$6,375. 
19 
$5.75 
$6.50 
19.5 
12^ cents per ton additional is paid for each one-half per cent above 193? per cent. 
