Faced with rising pressure for a

$ 14

per hour minimum wage rate, the farming industry is currently exploring the possible use of robotics to replace some farm workers. The

Helping HandHelping Hand

is one such robot; its job is to thin out a field of lettuce, removing the least promising buds of lettuce. By removing these weaker plants, the stronger lettuce plants have more room to grow. Assume the following facts:

LOADING...

(Click the icon to view the information.) While the

Helping HandHelping Hand

itself may be in workable condition for up to five years, assume that the farm would view its implementation as a one-year experiment.

Requirement

Perform a cost-benefit analysis for the first year of implementation to determine whether the

Helping HandHelping Hand

would be a financially viable investment if the minimum wage is raised to

$ 14

per hour. (Round your answers to the nearest whole dollar.)

Cost-Benefit Analysis
Expected Benefits (Cost Savings):
Total expected benefits
Expected Costs:
Total expected costs
Net expected benefit (cost)

Choose from any list or enter any number in the input fields and then click Check Answer.

COST BENEFIT INFORMATION

One Helping HandHelping Hand would do the work of 2020 farm workers.
2.	Each farm worker typically works 6060 hours on the lettuce thinning process each year.
3.	Each farm worker would earn $ 14$14 per hour plus 7.657.65% payroll tax.
4.	The Helping HandHelping Hand is estimated to cost $ 7 comma 500$7,500 plus $ 850$850 for delivery.
5.	Annual costs of operating the Helping HandHelping Hand are expected to be $ 1 comma 600$1,600.