What Enterprise is Sustainable for Me?
Apple
To evaluate how well this enterprise aligns with your farm's agronomic, marketing, financial and management resources, answer these five questions. Then, calculate your score.
Using a scale from 0 to 100, scores indicate your farm's likely success with an enterprise.
The icons link to resources you can use to answer these questions.
QUESTIONS
HELP ME ANSWER THIS
1. Selecting an apple production site is a long-term investment as orchards may live for years if the growing conditions fit the crop's needs. Do you have an appropriate apple tree production location that provides good air and water drainage and deep soils?
Yes
No
No
2. Have you identified sufficient fresh or processing markets that will demand your apple crop soon after harvest, or do you have the right environment for storing apples and extending the marketing season?
Yes
No
No
3. Can your operation source enough apple rootstock in varied cultivars that are resistant to apple diseases, such as scab and fire blight, that may be problematic in Missouri?
Yes
No
No
4. To produce apples, growers rely on a labor force to establish and maintain apple orchards and harvest and market the apple crop. Does your operation have adequate access to human labor to conduct these activities?
Yes
No
No
5. Apple trees require several years to mature and produce a full fruit crop. From a financial perspective, can your operation manage an apple orchard's upfront investment costs and wait several years for the orchard to establish itself before earning a return?
Yes
No
No
Your ResultsX
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Respond to the questions for an enterprise. Each question touches on a key factor that affects an enterprise's sustainability on your farm.2 of 3
Icons to the side of questions direct to other decision tools that share detailed information about a question's topic.3 of 3
After completing all questions for an enterprise, calculate your score. A pop-up page will share your results. Scores closer to 100 suggest the enterprise would align well with your farm. Scores closer to 0 suggest the enterprise would not fit as well, based on your responses to the questions.