approximate input cost inquiry

[Dave from MN]

Hey all, just wondering if a few of you could shoot me your input cost/acre on your crops, you know, seed ,fert, fuel, sprays etc, to get the crops in and up to the harvest, not including irrigation. Corn vs beans vs small grains. Just trying to get a high/low ballpark figure her so I have an idea of how many acres of which crops to take on this fall, next spring, with out going too high this first year. I need to decide real quick if I am gonna go with the 40 +/- or take the whole 100 acres available. I dont wanna deplete the savings because I took on too much ground the 1st year, but I want it to be worth while, and fun, so I can be happy like Allan.

 

[ed19]

Is it all one parcel? if not maybe start a rotation that will not leave you hanging if the weather turns bad for the one crop. just my idea.

 

[ed19]

Is it all one parcel? if not maybe start a rotation that will not leave you hanging if the weather turns bad for the one crop. just my idea.

 

[Dave from MN]

One feild is 10 acres, one feild is 15 acres of mine, with 15 or so adjacent that I could rent(currently one feild), another is a 7 acre of mine with 20 acres adjacent i could rent(also currently one feild). another is a small 7 acre feild. The remainder of potential rented additional land is about 50 acres in size. I have no issues with more than 1 crop, was kinda in my plan, which led me to ask on input cost, 1st year jitters i guess.

 

[Allan in NE]

Dave,

There's an easier way.

Just take a barrel full of money to Vegas and put 'er all on one throw of the dice. :>(

Allan

 

[PatMz]

Use two barrels

 

[TripleRange]

Dave,
I'm in my second year...but luckly have my Dad and Grandpa to fall back on for advice. My first year was fun and my second year is going along fun too...they were both entirely DIFFERENT. I farm 50 acres. Inputs are constantly varying depending on the way you farm and everybody farms a little bit different. YOU are going to have to sit down with a pencil and Paper (or you could use Excel on the computer) and figure out what will work for you. You can always cut back on fertlizer...or pick a less expensive crop to grow to make things work within budget. Only you will come up with acurate input cost numbers...nobody else. my advice....grab the 100 acres while you still have the chance and make it work one way or another!

 

[Anonymous-0]

Dave you are asking for one of the dirty little secrets about farming. All you need to do is figure out the average production for the area is, what the crops sells for at harvest. Do the math.

In my case it cost me, in rough numbers, 175 an acre to till, plant, spray, and harvest corn. That covered everthing from the first day I broke ground to dumping it in the silo. Fuel, oil, fert, seed, chems, etc. No machinery. Seed and fert being the bulk. my area for corn is around 100 bu acre. When I quit grain crops that 175 would get me aroud 200. Property tax took the other 25 plus a little.

Beans were not much better. I can't recall the numbers but I think something like 150 in for less than couple hundred out.

I am convenced that the seed companies base the price of the seed on what it will produce and market rate.

Plus I am convenced that is why so many farmers are on welfare (no disrespect intended). The majority are at best break even operations. That goverment crop check is what feeds them. One bad year and they are bankrupt.

This is why I only do hay now. Cost me less than a buck, including machinery, to make a bale and a nickle or so for transportation. At 3.50-4.00 bale I can eat real well and pay all the bills. Plus I am not beholden to the Goverment to keep me in the poor house....

 

[Anonymous-0]

I dont think you said anything in there that would force you to cover up your name

 

[paul]

Corn & soybeans, 50-50 on 100 acres, is going to do you well if you are in southern MN.

Wheat would be good if you are in the sandier, drier middle/ western part.

How are you going to harvest it?

What is your market - the nearest elevator, or a local buyer, can you sell the straw for $2-3 a bale....... This can make or break a crop like wheat or oats.

Cheapest to plant would be oats, wheat, or soybeans.

Corn will cost an extra 100 lbs of actual nitrogen, which is selling for ~$400 a ton raw now, and seed will run $20-30 more than beans. But - you can get a lot more at the end of the year to make up for it.

Around 'here' if you pass on land, you won't see it available again for 20 years or so, so you must be up north a bit. 'Here' you'd take the land if you could, wouldn't be a question. If you are going to go with your own equipment, esp a combine, you need to spead those equipment costs spread over as many acres as possible; one busted belt will run you $250, need to do some acres per year to keep up with those costs.

--->Paul

 

[Anonymous-0]

The neighbor ran the numbers and said next year corn is going to cost $368/acre to put in and take out. This includes at least $40/acre machinery cost. Beans were quite a bit cheaper, didn't say the exact figure but more like $225/acre. Both are quite a bit more than this year. Fertilizer is giving the big squeeze.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Have you talked to the folks at Foley or Santiago? They can handle the soil testing, crop recs, fertilizer rates, etc. They can give you real numbers.