Abstract: Nursery Cost Estimating

PUBLISHED IN: Symposia Proceedings, Western Forest and Conservation Nursery Association and Forest Nursery Association of British Columbia, Olympia, Washington.

TITLE: Nursery Cost Estimating at the NRCS Bridger Plant Materials Center

AUTHOR’S NAME: Scianna, Joseph D., Research Horticulturist, United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plant Materials Center, Route 2, Box 1189, Bridger, MT 59014

ABSTRACT

The USDA/NRCS Plant Materials Center (PMC) at Bridger Montana has maintained cooperative agreements with Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks for restoration research and native plant production for over 15 years. Over time it became necessary to develop cost prediction tools in order to evaluate contractual obligations, as well as, allocate project resources. Since conventional nursery cost estimating systems did not adequately address the increased expense of cleaning, inventorying, storing, and propagating wildland (uncultivated) seeds and plants, the PMC developed cost estimate matrices based on production difficulty and the size of the seed production field or container unit. Guidelines for determining the difficulty of production and establishing baseline production costs are presented. The PMC matrix can be used as a template for other cost estimating systems and modified to reflect the changing cost of production resulting from new propagation technologies and/or varying economic conditions. It is recommended that contracting parties work cooperatively in the development of practical cost estimate matrices and that these matrices be used as a predictive tool rather than an accounting or budgetary system.

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Last Modified: 07/06/2004