Below are links to programs designed by the Ag Economics team at the Adams Extension Office to help Mid-Atlantic Fruit Growers save money in various parts of their fruit growing operation.  Each program has helpful instructions to help you use it successfully.  All of these can be downloaded for home use as well. 

2009 Spray Spreadsheet - It’s easy to keep accurate pesticide records on your farm – this spreadsheet will help you document chemical applications in apple, peach, cherry and pear orchards.  Most commonly-available tree fruit pesticides registered in PA are listed, along with EPA registration numbers, re-entry intervals, and pre-harvest intervals.  Use this along with the spray spreadsheet application in the Calibration Calculator tool package by Dan Schriver (below) to track your spray costs and inventory.

Fuel Consumption Calculator - Use this program to determine the amount of fuel used for an orchard block during a season for mowing, spraying and chopping brush.

Block Calculator – Three different versions of this program will help you calculate a cash flow for a block of apples, including the point at which the block has paid for itself.  Compare the cash flow for high density plantings vs. low density plantings.  Choose from: 10-year block calculator,  20-year block calculator,  organic 20-year block calculator.

Cost of Production Calculator – Takes the simple production costs you provide and projects it on a per block, per acre, per bushel, and per tree scale according to the management you detail.  Compare up to four different blocks at one time.

Apple Target Yield Calculator

Peach Target Yield Calculator– Growers provide their desired packout figures and return on investment, this program will provide you with all the yield and harvest standards that must be achieved in order to meet your intended goal.  Describes ideal plantings and puts you into precision agriculture.

Platform Econ Calculator – By providing this program with a few simple costs, crew sizes, and the time you’d estimate that crew would require to complete a designated task, you can quickly determine if you could save money using a platform instead of using ladders for the same task you designate.  Compare three different platform scenarios at the same time.

Spray Program Manager – Growers provide their price list and spray program, Spray Program Manager generates an array of cost analyses, checks for product use violations, sums total amount of product used, indicates compliance with various EQIP contracts, and provides growers with various efficacy and toxicity ratings from the current Pennsylvania Tree Fruit Production Guide.  Compare up to three different spray programs at once.

PSU Orchard Support System Component Costs Calculator

Any questions/comments you may have about these programs may be directed to Jim Remcheck, Ag Economic Development Extension Educator at jar5006@psu.edu.

NEWSpray Sprdsheet09.xls  --  Automates recording spray applications by block and tracks spray costs by block for each chemical, makes shopping lists for each application and work orders for applicators    

NEW!! INV Spreadsheet - This spreadsheet performs all the same functions as the "NEWSpray Sprdsheet" file while also tracking your chemical inventory, making it easier to purchase the proper amounts of chemicals for future applications."

TowerDiscCore.xls  --  Calculates calibrations for any tower sprayer using Teejet disc core type nozzles from one to 70 nozzles per side

EngAgtcSS.xls  --  For use with Agtec or any dial metered engine driven sprayer pulled by a tractor having a ground speed readout

1FloodJet.xls  --  For use with a herbicide boom using a single teejet Floodjet nozzle

PTOAgtec  --  Calculates calibrations for a power take off driven Agtec or Kinkelder dial metered sprayer

DscCore12.xls  --  Calculates calibrations for any sprayer using Teejet disc core type nozzles from one to 12 nozzles per side

JohnBean12  --  Calculates calibrations for the original John Bean sprayer using the disc and whirl type nozzles

CalcDurand.xls  --  Calculates calibrations for multiple tractors and sprayers using Teejet disc core type nozzles

EngAgtcTach.xls  --  Calculates calibrations for an engine driven Agtec type sprayer pulled by a tractor having only a tachometer to monitor ground speed

BgBoom.xls  --  Calculates calibrations for herbicide or crop spraying using any number of Teejet flat fan or floodjet type nozzles

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