A new study on the cost and return of growing English walnuts has been released by the Agricultural Issues Center at the University of California.

The study focuses on establishing an orchard and producing walnuts under micro sprinkler irrigation in the Sacramento Valley.

According to the study, the economic life of the orchard used in this cost analysis is 30 years and presupposes a well-managed orchard using practices common to the region.

Input for the study was provided by cooperative extension farm advisors, growers and other agricultural associates with the University of California Department of Ag and Natural Resources (UCANR).

Assumptions used to identify current costs for the walnut crop, material inputs, cash and non-cash overhead are described in the study. A ranging analysis table shows profits over a range of prices and yields.

Other tables show the monthly cash costs, the costs and returns per acre, hourly equipment costs, and the whole farm annual equipment, investment and business overhead costs.

This study and other sample cost of production studies for many commodities are available online. They can be downloaded for free from the UC Davis Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics website at http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu.

For additional information or an explanation of the calculations used in the studies, contact Don Stewart at the UCANR Agricultural Issues Center at (530) 752-4651 or [email protected].