Budgeting During Bloom Budgets are critical for a successful farming operation. No one wants to open a bill a month later and realize the material you sprayed was $40-$50 per acre instead of the $20-$30 per acre expected. A budget can remove that unwanted surprise and the best part is they are not that difficult to develop. I have put together a sample budget that I would be happy to send to anyone who would like one. If you email me at tvoss@bdgrowers.com, I will happily email you a copy of this budget. This “Example Budget” ( Figure 2 ) lists multiple common operating costs, including bees, insurance, electricity and labor. It also contains areas for multiple spray applications, so you can tailor it to your specific operation. All the costs you enter will be the “Estimated Costs,” and as you go through the year you can enter the “Actual Costs” to make sure you are on track. At the bottom of the budget you can enter your estimated production, total acres and estimated price per pound. The spread sheet will do the math for you and provide you with an estimated total revenue, which you can compare against your estimated total cost. Being able to compare these costs allows you to adjust your budget by adding or subtracting from it. When identifying the costs of chemicals and fertilizer, a PCA is the best person to speak with. This budget will allow your PCA to forecast their needs and put a plan in place for your operation in the coming year. I get it, budgets are not the most fun part of farming, but they are incredibly important to your future success.
UC ANR Fungicide Efficacy Website: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/almond/fungicide-efficacy-for-almonds-diseases/
Trent Voss, Regional Manager, Blue Diamond Member Relations
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JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2024
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