2003 SPELTZ BUDGET
Horse Drawn/ Amish Practices 1
1 Acre
ITEM EXPLANATION PRICE PER YIELD (bu/A)   YOUR
UNIT BUDGET
                    115      
RECEIPTS
Speltz $1.80 /bu $207  
Straw 60 bales $1.50 /bale $90
Total Receipts $297
VARIABLE  COSTS
Seed (kernels) 100 pounds/acre $0.32 /pound $32  
Fertilizer 200 pounds/acre $0.11 /pound $22  
Lime 1000 pounds/acre $21 /ton $11  
Gasoline 2.2 gallons/acre $1.40 /gallon $3  
Binder Twine 1 ball/acre $7 /ball $7  
Grease, Oil, and Miscellaneous Supplies $2  
TOTAL VARIABLE COSTS -Per Acre $77  
-Per Bushel $0.67  
FIXED COSTS
Horse Days2 5 horse days $2.30 /horse day $12  
Machinery and Equipment Charge  
Depreciation3 $11  
Repairs4 $8  
Opportunity Cost5 $14  
Land Charge Rent $50      
TOTAL FIXED COSTS $94  
TOTAL COSTS -Per Acre $171  
-Per Bushel $1.48  
RETURN ABOVE VARIABLE COSTS $220  
RETURN TO LABOR AND MANAGEMENT6 $126
                           
1 Includes the use of a stationary tractor for power to some implements.  All other work is performed by horse or people.
2 One horse day is the amount of work one horse will do in a 6 hour day.  For example, it is estimated that it would take 5 horses one day or one horse five days to complete one acre of this speltz operation.  The estimated cost per day includes  feed, depreciation, and harness.  
3 Depreciation is the loss in value of a machine due to normal wear and tear.  The depreciation for each machine is listed below.  Purchase price, salvage value, and useful life were estimated from information collected at focus group interviews with Amish farmers.  Based on a farm crop rotation of 15 acres small grains, 15 acres corn (50% silage, 50% husked) and 20 acres of hay.
Purchase Price Salvage Value Useful Life Acres Used/yr. Annual Depr.
Disc 450 33 27 30 0.51
Drag 37 0 17 30 0.07
Forecart 342 200 27 50 0.11
Grain Binder 700 100 28 15 1.43
Grain Drill 467 90 22 15 1.14
Harrow 800 200 27 30 0.74
Hay Baler 1767 430 22 35 1.74
Plow 530 67 30 30 0.51
Thrashing Mach.* 2170 133 30 15 1.51
Tractor 2130 666 30 22.5 2.17
2 Wagons 2000 460 27 50 1.14
Total 11.07
Example Calculation: Disk
(Purchase Price - Salvage Value) ÷ Useful Life ÷ Acres Used/yr.
(450 - 33) ÷ 27 ÷ 30 = $0.51/acre
* Thrashing machines are typically part of a multi-farm thrashing circle.  For this budget, the thrashing circle is assumed to include three farms.  Therefore, the costs associated with the thrashing machine are divided between the three farms.  This method is used for depreciation, repair, and opportunity costs.
4 Repair costs are the normal maintenance costs associated with maintaining the equipment.  Annual repair costs were estimated from information collected at focus group interviews with Amish farmers.
Annual Repair Cost Acres Used/yr. Cost/ Acre
Disc 0 30 0.00
Drag 0 30 0.00
Forecart 4 50 0.08
Grain Binder 10 15 0.67
Grain Drill 10 15 0.67
Harrow 0 30 0.00
Hay Baler 50 35 1.43
Plow 43 30 1.43
Thrashing Mach.* 28 15 0.62
Tractor 50 22.5 2.22
2 Wagons 34 50 0.68
Total 7.80
Example Calculation: Grain Drill
Annual Repair Costs ÷ Acres Used/yr.
10 ÷ 15 = $0.67/acre
5 Opportunity cost is the money that could be made if the money invested in the machinery was invested in the next best opportunity.  It is typically not a cash cost but the cost of not having the opportunity to invest machinery capital in an alternative investment.
Purchase Price Salvage Value Acres Used/yr. Opp. Cost
Disc 450 33 30 0.48
Drag 37 0 30 0.04
Forecart 342 200 50 0.33
Grain Binder 700 100 15 1.60
Grain Drill 467 90 15 1.11
Harrow 800 200 30 1.00
Hay Baler 1767 430 35 1.88
Plow 530 67 30 0.60
Thrashing Mach.* 2170 133 15 1.54
Tractor 2130 666 22.5 3.73
2 Wagons 2000 460 50 1.48
Total 13.78
interest rate =  6%
Example Calculation: Disc
6 Return to labor and management is the revenue less total expenses except operator labor and management.
It is a measure of the returns to the operator's labor and management.
                           
Budget Developed by:
Randall James, PhD Robert Moore
Associate Professor, OSU Extension Extension Associate, OSU Extension
Geauga County Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Econ.
440-834-4656 614-688-3959
james.7@osu.edu moore.301@osu.edu