Crop Compare
Dwight Aakre, Farm Management Specialist
Andy Swenson, Farm & Family Resource Management Specialist
Crop Compare

A spreadsheet to assist producers in
determining the competitiveness of different
crops to produce
North Dakota Agriculture in 2006
Crop
Wheat
Soybeans
Corn
Barley
Sugarbeets
Sunflower
Canola
Dry Edible Beans
*Based on 2005
Percentage of
Total Cash Receipts
31
19
13
3
4.4*
4
4
4
Planted Acres
8,290,000
3,870,000
1,400,000
995,000
243,000
860,000
935,000
640,000
Total Value of Crop Production
North Dakota, 2006
Other Crops 12%
Soybeans 19%
Barley 3%
Dry Edible Beans 4%
Canola 4%
Sunflower 4%
Potatoes 5%
All Wheat 31%
Hay 5%
Corn Grain 13%
Defaults in Crop Compare




Nine regional budgets
Costs and yields from Extension crop budgets
Yields are 7-year Olympic average
User selects a base crop: corn, soybeans or
wheat
Objective

The objective of “crop compare” is to
calculate the cash price needed for other crops
to yield the same return over variable costs as
the base crop
User Input



All yields
All variable costs
Futures price and basis for base crop
Shortcoming of Crop Compare

Fixed costs are not included



Machinery ownership
Owner/operator labor
Differences in management and risk are not
included
NDSU Crop Budget Regions
Renville
Divide
NW
Bottineau
ttineau
Burke
Towner
NC
Williams
Mountrail
Pierce
Eddy
Wells
Sheridan
Foster
Dunn
Mercer
Oliver
Burleigh
Stark
Morton
Adams
Traill
Steele
SV
Stutsman
Kidder
SC
Cass
Barnes
SE
Logan
Hettinger
Grant
Bowman
Griggs
EC
Billings
Slope
Grand Forks
Nelson
McLean
SW
Walsh
Benson
McKenzie
Golden
Valley
NV
NE
Ramsey
McHenry
Ward
Pembina
Cavalier
Rolette
La Moure
Ransom
Richland
Emmons
Sioux
McIntosh
Dickey
Sargent
Cash Price for Breakeven Return over Variable Costs - South RRV, N.D.
Enter the futures price for
Corn
Enter your expected local basis
Expected local cash price for
Corn
Base crop = 1
Yield
Price
Income
Variable costs:
seed
herbicide
fungicide
insecticide
fertilizer
crop insurance
fuel & lube
repairs
drying
misc.
operating int.
Total var.costs
Return over
variable costs
1
0
Corn Soybean
125
34
$3.00
$7.69
$375.00 $261.61
$44.22
11.00
$32.59
11.00
6.00
60.37
17.70
20.22
15.32
16.88
1.00
7.71
$200.42
$174.58
0
S. Wht
44
$6.40
$281.48
Base Crop is
$3.60
$0.60
$3.00
Barley Drybeans
61
14.7
$4.37
$20.43
$266.85 $300.30
$13.80
14.20
1.50
$11.00
12.50
1.25
$31.00
24.00
6.00
1.69
7.70
12.26
10.94
38.81
7.70
14.33
11.45
31.03
4.26
15.60
12.08
23.28
13.10
15.57
12.93
1.50
3.35
$87.03
1.00
4.11
$106.90
1.00
3.55
$92.27
$174.58
$174.58
$174.58
Oil Snflr Conf Snflr
14.6
13.2
$18.73
$22.15
$273.42 $292.44
$16.32
15.50
$23.60
15.50
1.00
4.84
$125.72
5.00
21.68
5.31
15.31
12.00
2.92
1.00
3.80
$98.84
11.00
18.38
8.51
15.76
12.19
2.64
5.75
4.53
$117.86
$174.58
$174.58
$174.58
Note: - Only variable costs are considered in this comparison. You can include an amount under "misc."
to account for any differences between crops in fixed costs, labor, management and risk.
Corn
Cash Price for Breakeven Return over Variable Costs - North RRV, N.D.
Enter the futures price for
Corn
Enter your expected local basis
Expected local cash price for
Corn
Base crop = 1
Yield
Price
Income
Variable costs:
seed
herbicide
fungicide
insecticide
fertilizer
crop insurance
fuel & lube
repairs
drying
misc.
operating int.
Total var.costs
Return over
variable costs
1
0
Corn Soybean
101
31
$3.00
$6.94
$303.00 $215.28
$38.36
8.00
$32.59
8.00
0
Wheat
42
$5.90
$247.64
$13.80
14.20
5.00
Corn
$3.60
$0.60
$3.00
Barley Drybeans
57
14.7
$3.98
$18.07
$226.67 $265.70
$11.00
12.50
1.25
Base Crop is
$31.00
24.00
Oil Snflr Conf Snflr
13.7
12.5
$17.21
$20.58
$235.84 $257.19
Canola
13.2
$19.17
$253.03
Flax
23
$9.30
$213.98
$16.32
15.50
$23.60
15.50
$18.15
17.50
$6.40
14.71
11.00
14.54
12.35
15.69
12.15
2.52
5.75
4.52
$117.62
7.00
31.76
10.90
12.35
10.44
17.10
5.55
14.78
12.01
1.00
4.36
$113.46
1.00
2.86
$74.41
$139.56
$139.56
$139.56
43.25
17.70
19.74
15.46
13.64
1.00
6.29
$163.44
0.10
8.30
11.88
10.43
33.93
10.30
14.27
11.42
25.61
4.91
15.46
12.03
21.09
15.30
15.87
13.02
1.50
2.91
$75.71
1.00
4.16
$108.08
1.00
3.35
$87.11
1.00
4.85
$126.13
5.00
17.32
7.52
15.21
11.96
2.74
1.00
3.70
$96.27
$139.56
$139.56
$139.56
$139.56
$139.56
$139.56
Note: - Only variable costs are considered in this comparison. You can include an amount under "misc."
to account for any differences between crops in fixed costs, labor, management and risk.
Cash Price for Breakeven Return over Variable Costs - South East N.D.
Enter the futures price for
Corn
Enter your expected local basis
Expected local cash price for
Corn
Base crop = 1
Yield
Price
Income
Variable costs:
seed
herbicide
fungicide
insecticide
fertilizer
crop insurance
fuel & lube
repairs
drying
misc.
operating int.
Total var.costs
Return over
variable costs
1
0
Corn Soybean
117
34
$3.00
$7.41
$351.00 $252.10
0
S. Wht
41
$6.24
$255.89
$12.08
13.10
1.50
Corn
$3.60
$0.60
$3.00
Barley Drybeans
60
15.6
$4.09
$18.27
$245.52 $284.94
$11.00
11.30
1.25
Base Crop is
$43.48
11.00
$32.59
11.00
$31.00
24.00
6.00
54.09
18.80
18.36
14.51
15.80
1.00
7.32
$190.36
6.00
1.69
8.00
13.43
11.73
33.69
6.90
12.62
10.70
28.71
3.04
13.96
11.36
23.53
10.60
16.02
13.37
3.50
3.52
$91.46
1.00
3.66
$95.25
1.00
3.26
$84.88
$160.64
$160.64
$160.64
$160.64
Oil Snflr Conf Snflr
14.2
13.2
$18.04
$20.94
$256.16 $276.36
Canola
12
$22.58
$270.94
Flax
19
$11.85
$225.09
W. Wht
47
$5.34
$251.00
$14.96
15.50
$22.42
15.50
$18.15
17.50
$6.40
14.71
$7.20
8.15
11.00
16.78
8.42
16.16
12.60
2.64
5.75
4.45
$115.72
7.00
28.92
10.00
12.67
10.82
12.08
3.51
13.03
11.24
40.73
6.90
12.31
10.50
1.00
4.78
$124.30
5.00
19.14
5.34
15.67
12.40
2.84
1.00
3.67
$95.52
1.00
4.24
$110.30
1.00
2.48
$64.45
1.10
3.48
$90.37
$160.64
$160.64
$160.64
$160.64
$160.64
$160.64
Note: - Only variable costs are considered in this comparison. You can include an amount under "misc."
to account for any differences between crops in fixed costs, labor, management and risk.
Cash Price for Breakeven Return over Variable Costs - North East N.D.
Enter the futures price for
Corn
Enter your expected local basis
Expected local cash price for
Corn
Base crop = 1
Yield
Price
Income
Variable costs:
seed
herbicide
fungicide
insecticide
fertilizer
crop insurance
fuel & lube
repairs
drying
misc.
operating int.
Total var.costs
Return over
variable costs
1
0
Corn Soybean
94
27
$3.00
$7.74
$282.00 $208.92
$36.99
8.00
$32.01
8.00
0
Wheat
36
$6.06
$218.31
$12.08
13.10
5.00
Corn
$3.60
$0.60
$3.00
Barley Drybeans
55
14.2
$3.74
$17.79
$205.81 $252.63
$11.00
11.30
1.25
Base Crop is
$31.00
24.00
Oil Snflr Conf Sunf
13.2
11.9
$16.49
$20.14
$217.70 $239.69
Canola
14.4
$16.64
$239.64
Flax
22
$8.77
$193.00
$14.96
15.50
$22.42
15.50
$18.15
17.50
$6.40
14.71
11.00
14.51
13.92
15.37
12.39
2.38
5.75
4.53
$117.77
7.00
38.66
10.30
10.82
9.76
16.87
4.94
13.13
11.29
1.00
4.53
$117.72
1.00
2.73
$71.07
$121.92
$121.92
$121.92
43.67
19.00
17.91
14.66
12.69
1.00
6.16
$160.08
6.35
9.70
12.92
11.17
29.03
9.40
12.45
10.62
26.91
4.12
13.79
11.29
22.90
17.50
15.94
13.34
3.50
3.35
$87.00
1.00
3.71
$96.39
1.00
3.23
$83.89
1.00
5.03
$130.71
5.00
17.70
8.09
14.90
12.20
2.74
1.00
3.68
$95.77
$121.92
$121.92
$121.92
$121.92
$121.92
$121.92
Note: - Only variable costs are considered in this comparison. You can include an amount under "misc."
to account for any differences between crops in fixed costs, labor, management and risk.
Cash Price for Breakeven Return over Variable Costs - East Central N.D.
Enter the futures price for
Corn
Enter your expected local basis
Expected local cash price for
Corn
Base crop = 1
Yield
Price
Income
Variable costs:
seed
herbicide
fungicide
insecticide
fertilizer
crop insurance
fuel & lube
repairs
drying
misc.
operating int.
Total var.costs
Return over
variable costs
1
0
Corn Soybean
93
30
$3.00
$6.95
$279.00 $208.48
0
S. Wht
35
$6.08
$212.69
Base Crop is
Corn
$3.60
$0.60
$3.00
Barley Drybeans
57
15.1
$3.61
$16.81
$205.74 $253.78
$36.99
8.00
$32.59
8.00
$10.35
13.10
1.50
$8.25
11.30
1.25
$31.00
24.00
41.25
16.40
17.88
14.64
12.56
1.00
5.95
$154.67
4.28
8.30
13.03
11.21
27.18
8.80
12.42
10.61
27.45
3.86
13.85
11.32
23.92
15.20
15.99
13.36
3.50
3.24
$84.15
1.00
3.40
$88.36
1.00
3.13
$81.41
$124.33
$124.33
$124.33
$124.33
Oil Snflr Conf Sunf
13.6
12
$16.08
$19.79
$218.73 $237.45
Canola
13.3
$18.02
$239.69
Flax
20
$9.59
$191.85
W Wht
42
$4.99
$209.60
$14.96
15.50
$22.42
15.50
$18.15
17.50
$5.60
14.71
$6.00
8.15
11.00
14.56
9.36
15.38
12.40
2.40
5.75
4.35
$113.12
7.00
33.96
9.70
12.75
10.86
13.95
5.33
13.07
11.26
35.36
8.80
12.15
10.43
1.00
4.98
$129.45
5.00
18.83
5.60
14.94
12.22
2.72
1.00
3.63
$94.40
1.00
4.44
$115.36
1.00
2.60
$67.52
1.10
3.28
$85.27
$124.33
$124.33
$124.33
$124.33
$124.33
$124.33
Note: - Only variable costs are considered in this comparison. You can include an amount under "misc."
to account for any differences between crops in fixed costs, labor, management and risk.
Cash Price for Breakeven Return over Variable Costs - South Central N.D.
Enter the futures price for
Corn
Enter your expected local basis
Expected local cash price for
Corn
Base crop = 1
Yield
Price
Income
Variable costs:
seed
herbicide
fungicide
insecticide
fertilizer
crop insurance
fuel & lube
repairs
drying
misc.
operating int.
Total var.costs
Return over
variable costs
1
0
Corn Soybean
84
25
$3.00
$7.39
$252.00 $184.81
$31.51
8.00
$32.59
8.00
0
S. Wht
30
$5.88
$176.45
$10.35
11.30
1.50
Corn
$3.60
$0.60
$3.00
Barley Drybeans
55
13
$3.26
$17.31
$179.12 $224.98
$8.25
11.30
1.25
Base Crop is
$31.00
24.00
Oil Snflr Conf Snflr
13.3
12.8
$14.75
$17.04
$196.13 $218.09
Canola
12.9
$16.39
$211.48
Flax
18
$9.06
$163.04
W. Wht
46
$4.11
$189.18
$14.96
15.50
$21.24
15.50
$18.15
17.50
$5.60
14.71
$6.00
8.15
11.00
13.72
14.51
13.46
11.31
2.56
5.75
4.36
$113.41
7.00
29.61
9.00
10.72
9.72
8.61
5.10
10.99
10.11
36.87
6.30
9.78
9.16
1.00
4.11
$106.81
1.00
2.24
$58.36
5.00
3.25
$84.51
$104.67
$104.67
$104.67
$104.67
32.57
27.40
16.19
13.65
11.34
1.00
5.67
$147.33
2.40
9.70
10.85
10.01
18.53
6.30
10.44
9.60
22.96
3.93
12.25
10.64
18.12
15.50
13.87
12.19
3.50
3.08
$80.13
1.00
2.76
$71.78
1.00
2.86
$74.44
1.00
4.63
$120.31
5.00
14.87
9.11
13.51
11.33
2.66
1.00
3.52
$91.46
$104.67
$104.67
$104.67
$104.67
$104.67
$104.67
Note: - Only variable costs are considered in this comparison. You can include an amount under "misc."
to account for any differences between crops in fixed costs, labor, management and risk.
Cash Price for Breakeven Return over Variable Costs - North Central N.D.
Enter the futures price for
Corn
Enter your expected local basis
Expected local cash price for
Corn
Base crop = 1
Yield
Price
Income
Variable costs:
seed
herbicide
fungicide
insecticide
fertilizer
crop insurance
fuel & lube
repairs
drying
misc.
operating int.
Total var.costs
Return over
variable costs
1
0
Corn Soybean
80
25
$3.00
$7.42
$240.00 $185.54
0
S. Wht
31
$5.97
$184.95
Durum
30
$6.23
$186.91
Base Crop is
Corn
$3.60
$0.60
$3.00
Barley Drybeans
55
14
$3.30
$16.33
$181.50 $228.67
$30.14
8.00
$32.59
8.00
$10.35
13.10
1.50
$14.00
13.10
1.50
$8.25
11.30
1.25
$31.00
24.00
31.50
15.00
17.47
14.47
10.80
1.00
5.14
$133.52
3.56
7.50
10.85
10.01
20.80
7.20
11.35
10.15
19.68
6.60
11.31
10.14
24.20
3.24
12.25
10.64
21.16
14.20
13.92
12.21
3.50
3.04
$79.05
1.00
3.02
$78.47
1.00
3.09
$80.42
1.00
2.89
$75.02
$106.48
$106.48
$106.48
$106.48
$106.48
Oil Snflr Field Pea
13.6
33
$14.40
$5.61
$195.83 $185.26
$14.28
15.50
Canola
13.8
$15.71
$216.82
Flax
21
$8.21
$172.38
W. Wht
42
$4.53
$190.09
$19.20
17.00
$18.15
17.50
$5.60
17.71
$6.00
8.15
5.45
6.88
12.17
11.05
7.00
33.61
8.30
10.78
9.75
13.91
4.80
10.41
9.93
33.11
7.20
11.18
9.75
1.00
4.70
$122.19
5.00
16.81
5.71
13.54
11.35
2.72
1.00
3.44
$89.35
4.00
3.03
$78.78
1.00
4.24
$110.33
1.00
2.53
$65.89
5.00
3.22
$83.61
$106.48
$106.48
$106.48
$106.48
$106.48
$106.48
Note: - Only variable costs are considered in this comparison. You can include an amount under "misc."
to account for any differences between crops in fixed costs, labor, management and risk.
- Crop insurance for corn is only available by written agreement in some counties.
Cash Price for Breakeven Return over Variable Costs - South West N.D.
Enter the futures price for
Corn
Enter your expected local basis
Expected local cash price for
Corn
Base crop = 1
Yield
Price
Income
Variable costs
seed
herbicide
fungicide
insecticide
fertilizer
crop insurance
fuel & lube
repairs
drying
misc.
operating int.
Total var.costs
Return over
variable costs
Base Crop is
Corn
$3.60
$0.60
$3.00
1
Corn
63
$3.00
$189.00
0
S. Wht
28
$5.57
$156.03
0
Durum
30
$5.35
$160.54
Barley
48
$3.20
$153.74
Oats
54
$2.71
$146.35
$26.03
8.00
$8.63
14.30
1.50
$10.50
14.30
1.50
$6.25
13.80
1.25
$7.50
4.88
Oil Snflr Field Pea
12.3
29
$14.49
$5.38
$178.19 $155.97
$15.98
23.65
17.71
15.00
11.73
11.68
8.51
1.00
3.99
$103.65
14.37
6.70
8.77
8.69
16.53
6.90
8.84
8.72
15.63
3.76
10.41
9.66
14.70
6.22
10.61
9.74
5.00
2.72
$70.68
5.00
2.89
$75.18
5.00
2.63
$68.39
5.00
2.35
$61.00
5.00
10.85
7.59
9.38
9.36
2.46
5.00
3.57
$92.84
$85.35
$85.35
$85.35
$85.35
$85.35
$85.35
Canola
12.1
$15.89
$192.33
Flax
18
$8.17
$147.02
W. Wht
34
$4.47
$152.04
$19.20
20.00
$18.15
20.50
$4.80
17.71
$6.00
8.15
7.31
4.92
9.86
9.69
20.85
6.70
8.91
8.51
2.25
4.11
10.13
10.21
7.00
24.48
8.90
9.54
9.29
2.00
2.72
$70.62
5.00
4.11
$106.97
5.00
2.37
$61.66
5.00
2.56
$66.68
$85.35
$85.35
$85.35
$85.35
Note: - Only variable costs are considered in this comparison. You can include an amount under "misc."
to account for any differences between crops in fixed costs, labor, management and risk.
- Crop insurance for corn is only available by written agreement. An estimate is used.
Cash Price for Breakeven Return over Variable Costs - North West N.D.
Enter the futures price for
Corn
Enter your expected local basis
Expected local cash price for
Corn
Base crop = 1
Yield
Price
Income
Variable costs:
seed
herbicide
fungicide
insecticide
fertilizer
crop insurance
fuel & lube
repairs
drying
misc.
operating int.
Total var.costs
Return over
variable costs
Base Crop is
Corn
$3.60
$0.60
$3.00
1
Corn
63
$3.00
$189.00
0
S. Wht
28
$5.27
$147.63
0
Durum
29
$5.19
$150.62
Barley
47
$3.09
$145.09
Oats
58
$2.43
$141.05
$26.03
11.00
$8.63
14.30
1.50
$10.50
14.30
1.50
$6.25
13.80
1.25
$7.50
4.88
26.01
15.00
11.73
11.68
8.51
5.00
4.60
$119.56
21.00
6.50
8.77
9.48
22.16
7.10
8.80
8.70
22.54
3.89
10.37
9.64
24.48
6.44
10.75
9.80
5.00
3.01
$78.19
5.00
3.12
$81.18
5.00
2.91
$75.65
$69.44
$69.44
$69.44
$69.44
Oil Snflr Field Pea
12.1
31
$14.00
$4.76
$169.34 $147.50
$15.98
23.65
Canola
13.7
$13.86
$189.82
Flax
19
$7.44
$141.42
W. Wht
32
$4.40
$140.82
Lentils
13.5
$10.93
$147.57
$19.20
20.00
$18.15
20.50
$4.80
20.71
$6.00
8.15
$13.30
23.50
6.47
3.81
10.97
10.61
7.00
37.63
8.50
9.64
9.33
14.50
5.50
9.21
9.49
25.66
6.50
8.84
8.48
4.70
7.71
10.96
10.95
5.00
2.75
$71.60
5.00
16.86
8.44
9.36
9.35
2.42
5.00
3.84
$99.90
4.00
3.00
$78.06
5.00
4.63
$120.38
5.00
2.77
$71.98
5.00
2.75
$71.38
4.00
3.00
$78.12
$69.44
$69.44
$69.44
$69.44
$69.44
$69.44
$69.44
Note: - Only variable costs are considered in this comparison. You can include an amount under "misc."
to account for any differences between crops in fixed costs, labor, management and risk.
- Crop insurance for corn is only available by written agreement. An estimate is used.
Web Address for Crop Compare
http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/farmmgmt
/docs/Crop_Compare.xls