Life Sciences Commons^™

B852: Organic Wild Blueberry Production, Frank Drummond, John Smagula, Seanna Annis, David Yarborough

Bulletins

Recent research carried out under the auspices of a USDA organic transition grant resulted in a better understanding of the interaction of wild blueberry production tactics such as pruning method, soil pH reduction by sulfur (S) application, and organic fertilizer rates on wild blueberry growth, development, and yield. This bulletin is the product of what we have learned over the past four years of this research project.

B823: Transporting Fresh Blueberries From Maine To The Boston Market: A Look At The Economic Alternatives, Antonia L. Hoelper, Michele C. Marra

Bulletins

A study was initiated at the University of Maine to investigate various transportation alternatives available to marketers of fresh blueberries and similar fresh-market enterprises to determine economies of size in shipping. Several methods of economic analysis, including partial budgeting and break-even analysis, were used to assess the feasibility of several transportation alternatives. The alternatives analyzed were (1) contract shipping services, while using various percentages of truck capacity, (2) purchase of a truck and large trailer (20,000 Ibs capacity), and (3) purchase of a truck and smaller trailer (10,000 Ibs capacity).

B780: A Cost Analysis Of Pruning Procedures In Lowbush Blueberry Production, Eric J. Hanson, Amr A. Ismail, Homer Metzger

Bulletins

Burning fields with fuel oil is currently the most practical method of pruning blueberries but is costly and destructive to the organic material on the surface of the soil. Fuel oil is a nonrenewable resource that is rapidly increasing in cost and, in the future, may become less readily available for this use. The need to develop alternative means of pruning lowbush bleuberries is evident. This bulletin compares the economics of six pruning procedures on operations of three sizes. The budgets are based on certain assumptions and costs which will change over time. The results will allow blueberry growers to …

B738: Costs And Returns In Lowbush Blueberry Production In Maine, 1974 Crop, Homer B. Metzger, Amr A. Ismail

Bulletins

Blueberry production is primarily a part time enterprise with a wide variation in acreages per grower and a modest investment per acre.

Blueberry growers recovered cash costs and most of the variable costs of producing and harvesting the 1974 crop. For a competitive return on investment and a modest wage, the average grower would have had to receive 35 cents rather than 20 cents per pound, considering the yields obtained in 1974. To be reasonably assured of adequate returns, a grower should achieve yields of over 1,000 pounds per acre.