Better Planning Requires Better Assumptions and Formulas
Formulas are used for both strategic and operational to maximize performance and profitability. From yearly projections on biomass output to projecting expenses and building proformas cultivations depend on formulas to ensure success.
Cultivation Formulas of Importance
- Wattage per sq ft
- Year one cost: $1,200/lb of production or less
- Year two cost: $900/lb of production or less
- Veg should be at least 20% of facility or 30-40% of flower canopy (includes mothers)
- Grams per watt: 1/2 gram per watt per month OR 1 gram per watt every 2 months
- 1 lb = 454 grams, 1 light = 500 watt (lb per 500 watts)
- 9 week flower cycle: 5.5x turnover at 9 week cycles (realistically its 5.77 turnovers/year) allows 17 days for downtime for padding.
- $7/gram is conservative = $2,500/lb = $4,000,000/year revenue
- $200-$300/sq ft build cost for full facility
- Every 2,000 sq ft canopy, apply as much as 350 gallons per day (at max drink rate weeks 4-6)
- 0.4 tons AC per 1,000 watt of lighting (dehumidify) – calculating for canopy, because canopy is tied to wattage
- Trimmers: 1/2 crew total will be post production/trimming. Same amount for packaging
- 10 trimmers can trim anywhere between 400 lbs/month (depending on automation)
- Padding for water: have enough water of 3 days of not having access worst case
- Clone Density: 50 – 72 clones/box, 1 cloning rack should fit 2,000 clones
- 1,000 sq ft canopy 175 gallons/day, plants transpire 93% of water
- Need dehumidify to remove 93% of 175 gallons application rate (over a 24 hour period of time, works harder during lights on time)
- 1 employee per 500 sq ft of total canopy (including veg and flower)