North Carolina blackberry growers have an updated sample operating budget to help them track, maintain and manage their business costs in 2012. Jonathan Baros, farm and agribusiness manager with N.C. MarketReady, developed the new blackberry operating budget, which represents the estimated costs associated with production, 
harvest and marketing for commercial blackberry operations in North Carolina.
Extension agents and growers are able to estimate production costs by entering cost estimates into the budget spreadsheet. Since expenses such as machinery, materials and labor vary by operation, these spreadsheets are designed to automatically calculate estimated business costs, returns and breakeven values based on the data a grower inputs. Sample budgets with production cost estimates for the first three years are also included. Costs can vary greatly depending on the operation.
Ultimately, the budget will help answer the questions: “How much will it cost?” and “Is there potential for profit?”
Download the 2011-2012 Blackberry Budget
Or find the blackberry budget on the website:
Visit the Blackberry & Raspberry Growers Information Portal for more information regarding North Carolina blackberries. Contact the local Cooperative Extension center with other questions.
Writer: Justin Moore
