Worksheet 1
Are fire ants costing your operation money?
How many acres are in your cattle operation  
1 How much do you spend in an average year to treat injured cattle? (include medicines, Bandages, vet bills, and an estimated cost of your time)  
2 A. How many cattle/calves do you lose per year to ants?  If fewer than one, give a fraction (e.g., 1 calf/2 years = 0.5 calf/year).  Include only those directly killed by ants.  
  B. What did you pay for calf or added value of cow?  
  C. How much profit if calf had been sold normally?  
(B+C)xA=Total Death Losses

 
3 What are your average yearly losses
Cost of Material Total Labor
Ruined Feed      
Ruined Hay      
Shredder Damage      
Electrical Damage      
Other damage/loss      
Total Material and Equipment Losses


4


Losses in hay production, from other form if applicable
 
5 Any medical costs for you, your family, or workers per year  
6 Per year losses to pets, horses, food, animals, exotic breeds, etc.  
7 Any other per year losses that can be blamed on fire ants.  
Grand Total  
CAN YOU AFFORD TO TREAT FOR FIRE ANTS
Grand Total/ Number of Acres in Operation = Per Acre in Losses
If loss per acre is more than $15, you can probably make money by treating entire place.
If loss per acre is less than $15, pinpoint where these losses occur and only treat those areas.