Cost-Benefit Analysis of Two CuGuard Applications in Greenhouse Cucumber Production

Evaluating the Economic Value of CuGuard for CGMMV Management

Greenhouse cucumber growers face significant financial risk from Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV), a disease capable of reducing yields and crop value. This cost-benefit analysis examines the economic impact of applying CuGuard twice during crop establishment and compares treatment costs with potential crop losses resulting from CGMMV infection.

CuGuard Application Program

The analysis is based on two CuGuard applications per acre:

  1. Product Application Rate and Material Cost
  • Application rate: 0.5 litre per acre
  • Number of applications: 2
  • Cost of CuGuard: $700 per application
  • Total raw material cost: $1,400 per acre
  1. Labour Cost – First Application

The first application is performed as a high-pressure spray treatment on transplant plugs while they remain on the cart.

  • Estimated labour time: 3 seconds per plant
  • Labour cost: $300 per acre
  1. Labour Cost – Second Application

The second application uses the Straver application method.

  • Estimated labour time: 10 seconds per plant
  • Labour cost: $800 per acre
Total CuGuard Program Cost per Acre

Cost Component

Cost per Acre

CuGuard Raw Material

$1,400

Labour – First Application

$300

Labour – Second Application

$800

Total Investment

$2,500

Greenhouse Cucumber Crop Value

Greenhouse cucumber production can generate substantial revenue. Based on production values ranging from $10,000 to $14,000 per acre per week over a production period of 10 to 14 weeks, total crop value ranges from:

  • Low estimate: $100,000 per acre
  • High estimate: $196,000 per acre
  • Median crop value: $148,000 per acre
Estimated Crop Value per Acre

Weeks of Production

Low Value ($10,000/week)

High Value ($14,000/week)

10

$100,000

$140,000

11

$110,000

$154,000

12

$120,000

$168,000

13

$130,000

$182,000

14

$140,000

$196,000

Financial Impact of CGMMV Losses

Using the median crop value of $148,000 per acre, even small yield losses caused by CGMMV can exceed the cost of the CuGuard treatment program.

Estimated Crop Losses from CGMMV

CGMMV Loss (%)

Crop Loss per Acre

1%

$1,480

2%

$2,960

3%

$4,440

4%

$5,920

5%

$7,400

10%

$14,800

15%

$22,200

20%

$29,600

Return on Investment Analysis

The total cost of the two-application CuGuard program is $2,500 per acre.

At the median crop value of $148,000 per acre:

  • Preventing just 1.7% crop loss offsets the entire cost of the CuGuard program.
  • A 2% reduction in CGMMV-related losses saves approximately $2,960 per acre, generating a positive return on investment.
  • Preventing a 5% loss protects approximately $7,400 per acre in crop value—nearly three times the treatment cost.
  • Preventing a 10% loss protects approximately $14,800 per acre, representing nearly six times the investment.

Conclusion

For greenhouse cucumber growers, the economic case for proactive CGMMV management is compelling. With a total program cost of approximately $2,500 per acre, two applications of CuGuard represent a relatively small investment compared with the potential value of the crop.

Given that preventing less than 2% crop loss can recover the full treatment cost, CuGuard offers growers a practical risk-management tool with the potential to protect substantial crop revenue and improve profitability throughout the production cycle.

This calculation applies even to seed species with relatively higher resistance to CGMMV. Resistance is not immunity.

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