Asparagus can be a worthwhile and profitable vegetable crop if growers are willing to follow good cultural practices and are able to find suitable market outlets. Asparagus can be used as a supplemental or companion enterprise to wheat, corn, soybeans, tobacco, or livestock, based upon the distribution of seasonal labor demands of the farmer. Asparagus can bring a high dollar return per acre when compared with field crops.
| Table 3. Estimating Spear Growth of Asparagus | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Temp. degrees F | Current Spear Height | ||||
| (High + Low) 2 | 2" | 4" | 6" | 8" | 10" |
| Spear Growth (Inches) Per Day | |||||
| T=45 | ___ | ___ | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 |
| T=46 | ___ | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 2.0 |
| T=47 | ___ | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.1 |
| T=48 | ___ | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| T=49 | ___ | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| T=50 | ___ | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
| T=51 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.7 |
| T=52 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 2.8 |
| T=53 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 |
| T=54 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.1 |
| T=55 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.2 |
| T=56 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| T=57 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 3.5 |
| T=58 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 3.7 |
| T=59 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 |
| T=60 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.9 |
| T=61 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 4.0 |
| T=62 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 4.2 |
| T=63 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 4.4 |
| T=64 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 4.5 |
| T=65 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 4.6 |
| T=66 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 4.8 |
| T=67 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.9 |
| T=68 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 5.0 |
| T=69 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 5.2 |
| T=70 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 5.3 |
| T=71 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 5.5 |
| T=72 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 5.6 |
| T=73 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 5.8 |
| T=74 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 5.9 |
| For example, if spears are 2 inches tall and you expect an average temperature of 55 degrees F, spears will grow 0.7 inches in a 24-hour day. If the spears are 6 inches tall, they will grow 2 inches at this temperature (24). | |||||
Table 4. Estimated Costs and Returns of Asparagus Production (1996) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Estimated Costs to Establish Asparagus (First Year) | ||
| Input | Cost per acre | Your cost |
| Soil preparation for planting (soil test, lime, plow, disk) | $100.00 | ________ |
| Fertilizer (N,P,K) | 80.00 | ________ |
| Asparagus crowns (6,000 @ $130.00 per 1,000) | 780.00 | ________ |
| Planting labor (furrowing, planting, covering) | 60.00 | ________ |
| Hand hoeing (if herbicide not labeled) (12 hours/week X 10 weeks X $5.00/hour) | 600.00 | ________ |
| Insecticide, fungicide (5 sprays) | 65.00 | ________ |
| Machinery costs | 100.00 | ________ |
| $1,785.00 | ||
| Estimated Costs and Returns of Asparagus (Second Year) | ||
| Input | Cost per acre | Your cost |
| Year 1 establishment cost | $1,785.00 | ________ |
| Pre-emergence herbicide, 2 sprays | 50.00 | ________ |
| Insecticide, fungicide, 6 sprays | 85.00 | ________ |
| Harvesting and marketing (500 lbs@$0.30/lb.) (an average between direct marketing and wholesale marketing costs) | 150.00 | ________ |
| Machinery, fuel, lube, repairs | 25.00 | ________ |
| $2,095.00 | ||
| Production | ||
| Asparagus spears (500 lbs @ $1.25/lb.) | 625.00 | ________ |
| Net cash flow through second year | $-1,470.00 | ________ |
| Estimated Costs and Returns of Asparagus (Third Year) | ||
| Input | Cost per acre | Your cost |
| Years 1 & 2 establishment cost (minus Year 2 production) | $1,470.00 | ________ |
| Pre-emergence herbicide, 2 sprays | 50.00 | ________ |
| Insecticide, fungicide, 6 sprays | 85.00 | ________ |
| Harvesting and marketing (1,000 lbs @ $0.30/lb.) | 300.00 | ________ |
| Machinery, fuel, lube, repairs | 25.00 | ________ |
| $1,930.00 | ||
| Production | ||
| Asparagus spears (1,000 lbs @ $1.25/lb.) | 1,250.00 | |
| Net cash flow through third year | $ -680.00 | |
| Estimated Costs and Returns of Asparagus (Fourth Year) | ||
| Input | Cost per acre | Your cost |
| Years 1, 2 & 3 establishment cost (minus Years 2 & 3 production) | $ 680.00 | ________ |
| Pre-emergence herbicide, 2 sprays | 50.00 | ________ |
| Insecticide, fungicide, 6 sprays | 85.00 | ________ |
| Harvesting and marketing (2,000 lbs @ $0.30/lb.) | 600.00 | ________ |
| Machinery, fuel, lube, repairs | 25.00 | ________ |
| $1,440.00 | ||
| Production | ||
| Asparagus spears (2,000 lbs @ $1.25/lb.) | 2,500.00 | ________ |
| Net cash flow through fourth year | $1,060.00 | ________ |