Flowering ginger plants aren’t known by any other 
common names, although some individual species 
bear names such as “red ginger” or “yellow ginger.” 
Heliconias are tropical plants related to bananas, 
cannas, and ginger. There are about 100 different 
individual species, and most species have a large 
number of hybrids and cultivars, with flower styles 
that vary significantly from the original. These were 
asked separately on the Hawaii form and are 
summarized separately in the census for Hawaii 
only. 
Horticultural production expenses. This includes 
the production expenses paid by the operators, 
partners, and landlords. Expenses incurred but not 
paid in 2014 are included. Expenses not pertaining to 
horticultural production (e.g., a retail operation, 
production of non -horticultural commodities) are 
excluded. 
All other production expenses. This category 
includes all expenses not listed on the report form. 
Examples include customwork, storage and 
warehousing, insurance premiums, etc. Health 
expenses and payroll taxes are excluded. 
Chemicals purchased. These 2014 expenses include 
insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other 
pesticides, including costs of custom application 
used on the horticultural operation. 
Containers purchased. This represents the expense 
for containers used for horticultural production. 
Contract labor expense. This includes the cost of 
workers furnished on a contract basis by labor 
contractor, crew leader, or cooperative. Work 
included planting, maintaining, harvesting crops or 
similar horticultural activities. Expenses related to 
building or repair work done by construction 
contractors are excluded. 
Fertilizer , lime, and soil conditioner purchased. 
These expenses include fertilizer and lime, including 
rock phosphate and gypsum, and the costs of custom 
application used on the horticultural operation in 
2014. 
Gasoline, fuels, and oils purchased. These expenses 
include the cost of all gasoline, diesel, natural gas, 
LP gas, motor oil, and grease products for the 
2012 Census of Agriculture 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
horticultural operation in 2014. Expenses exclude 
fuel and oil not purchased for horticultural 
production. 
Hired labor expense. Data include total amount paid 
for horticultural labor, including regular workers, 
parttime workers, and members of the operator’s 
family if they received payments for labor. Expenses 
include social security taxes, state taxes, 
unemployment tax, payment for sick leave or 
vacation pay, workman’s compensation, insurance 
premiums, and pension plans. Expenses for laborers 
that did not work on the horticultural specialty 
operation (e.g., retail operations, non-horticultural 
production, etc.) are excluded. 
Interest paid on all debt related to the horticultural 
operation. These expenses include interest and 
finance charges paid in 2014 for debts for the 
horticultural operation. Interest associated with 
activities not related to production of horticultural 
crops on this operation was excluded. Interest on 
owner/operator’s dwelling, where the amount is 
separate from the interest on the land and buildings 
on the operation, is excluded. 
Marketing expenses. These data include costs related 
to the marketing of horticultural crops for sale from 
the horticultural production operation. Costs related 
to retail stores on the operation are excluded. 
Packaging expenses. This is a new item for 2014. 
These data include costs related to the packaging to 
prepare horticultural crops for sale from the 
horticultural production operation. Costs related to 
retail stores on the operation are excluded. Expenses 
related to packaging were previously included in 
other production expenses. 
Potting soil and growing media purchased. Data 
include the total expenses paid for potting soils, 
growing media, inert support materials for 
hydroponic production, and expenses for soils mixed 
on the operation. Expenses for ground soil obtained 
from the operation for horticultural production and 
water used in hydroponic production are excluded. 
Property taxes paid in 2014. These data include 
property taxes paid by the operators and landlords 
for the horticultural operation’s share of land, 
machinery, and buildings. Property taxes on land or 
Appendix B B - 5 
