Comparing costs and returns for sugarcane production on sand and muck soils of southern Florida, 2008-2009
- Univ. of Florida, Immokalee, FL (United States)
- Univ. of Florida, LaBelle, FL (United States)
- Univ. of Florida, Palm Beach, FL (United States)
- Univ. of Florida, Belle Glade, FL (United States)
Sugarcane production in Florida is concentrated south and west of Lake Okeechobee and is grown on both muck and sand soils. During the 2008-2009 season, more than 12 million metric tons of sugarcane was harvested and supported important sugarcane milling and sugar refining operations located in southern Florida. Farms on muck soils account for 80% of Florida’s annual sugarcane crop, while farms on sand soils account for the remaining 20%. This paper compares revenues, production costs and net annual returns from two equally sized sugarcane farms (2,000 hectare) representing typical growing conditions on sand and muck soils. Sugarcane growers on muck soils enjoy two distinct advantages over their counterparts farming sugarcane on sand soils. First, total farm revenues are higher because of greater yields and a higher percentage of land that can be grown for commercial harvest. Second, unit costs of production are lower due to the inherent organic matter in muck soils, allowing growers to apply substantially less quantities of fertilizers. Annual net returns to land, management and risk from growing sugarcane on muck soils are estimated to be 400 dollars/ha, more than five times higher than estimated net returns from growing sugarcane on sand soils (70 dollars/ha). Furthermore, while sugarcane production on sand soils is less profitable relative to muck soils, economic returns from sugarcane on sand soils are higher than from cattle operations, offer less risk than presently associated with citrus production, and occupy land area far beyond the capacity of the vegetable industry to absorb.
- Research Organization:
- Intelligentsia International, LaBelle, FL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
- Grant/Contract Number:
- EE0000303
- OSTI ID:
- 1337167
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Vol. 30; ISSN 1075-6302
- Publisher:
- American Society of Sugar Cane TechnologistsCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Carbon Footprint of Biofuel Sugarcane Produced in Mineral and Organic Soils in Florida
Transforming Agricultural Systems on Public Lands in the EAA to Support Everglades Restoration