Labor costs on specialty crop farms are three times as much (up to 39%) of their total cash expenses than the average for all U.S. farms according to a recent USDA study. Addressing this common pain point is why we created the Know Your Cost to Grow program. 

The program assists diversified vegetable farmers in determining the cost of production for each crop they grow. An integral part of the program is using time studies to account for labor costs. Crop specific cost of production information is important for making informed decisions about production methods, pricing, and product mix.

Oregon Tilth and Oregon State University’s Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems launched Know Your Cost to Grow in the winter of 2020 as a pilot program in partnership with facilitators from nonprofit organizations and extension agencies in eight states.

If you are interested in staying informed about future opportunities with the program, please contact Tanya Murray.