Organic Farming Cost and Return Studies

[Organic Farming Main Page]
[SAREP Publications Main Page]

A number of cost studies for organically grown products are available through the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Davis. The studies were coordinated by UC Davis Extension economist Karen Klonsky, in collaboration with organic growers and industry representatives, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors, and other researchers and specialists. Each publication contains an overview of production practices (covering such topics as cover crops, crop rotation and diversification, pest management, marketing and regulations for organic production), and sample budgets for producing the crop (includes costs per acre by operation, costs per acre by inputs, monthly cash costs, investment and business overhead, profitability ranging analysis). Current titles include:

• Organic Alfalfa Hay (2007)
• Organic Almonds--Sprinkler Irrigated, San Joaquin Valley North (2007)
• Organic Almonds--Sprinkler Irrigated, San Joaquin Valley North (2002)
• Organic Almonds--Flood Irrigated, San Joaquin Valley North (1992)
• Organic Apples, Central Coast (1994)
• Organic Apples, North Coast (1994)
• Organic Beef / Cow-calf 50-head, North Coast: Mendocino and Lake Counties (2005)
• Organic Blueberries, Southern Coast: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties (2007)
• Organic Broccoli, Central Coast (2004)
• Organic Cotton, San Joaquin Valley North (1995)
• Organic Grapes (Wine), Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast/Napa County (2005)
• Organic Grapes (Wine), North Coast (2004)
• Organic Grapes (Wine) w/Cover Crop, North Coast (1992)
• Organic Grapes (Wine) w/Resident Veg., North Coast (1992)
• Organic Grapes/Raisins, South San Joaquin Valley (2008)
• Organic Grapes/Raisins, South San Joaquin Valley (1997)
• Organic Lemons, South Coast (1997)
• Organic Leaf Lettuce, Central Coast (2004)
• Organic Oranges, South Coast (1997)
• Organic Rice--Water Seeded, Sacramento Valley (1992)
• Organic Rice--No-Till Drill Seeded , Sacramento Valley (1992)
• Organic Strawberries, Central Coast (2006)
• Organic Tomatoes, Sacramento Valley (1994)
• Organic Vegetables-Mixed, Central Coast (1994)
• Organic Walnuts--Sprinkler Irrigated, North Coast (2007)
• Organic Walnuts, Sacramento Valley (1994)

Other cost studies are available on the ARE Web site at: http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu
These publications are also available in selected University of California Cooperative Extension offices.