Why use this calculator
Estimating crop yield and revenue before harvest helps you make informed marketing decisions, plan cash flow, and evaluate the profitability of different cropping scenarios. By comparing projected revenue across fields, crop types, or pricing scenarios, you can optimize your marketing strategy, decide when to forward-contract grain, and assess whether input costs are justified by expected returns.
How to use it
Enter your field size in acres, expected yield per acre in bushels (based on crop scouting, historical data, or regional averages), and the current or expected market price per bushel. The calculator instantly shows total production, gross revenue, and per-acre returns.
The formula
Total Yield = Field Area x Yield Per Acre. Gross Revenue = Total Yield x Price Per Bushel. Revenue Per Acre = Yield Per Acre x Price Per Bushel. These represent gross figures before deducting production costs.
Worked examples
100 acres of corn yielding 180 bu/acre at $5.50/bu
18,000 bushels total, $99,000 gross revenue, $990/acre
500 acres of soybeans yielding 55 bu/acre at $12.00/bu
27,500 bushels total, $330,000 gross revenue, $660/acre
When people use it
- Projecting gross revenue for budgeting and loan applications
- Comparing profitability of different crops on the same land
- Evaluating forward contract pricing against expected production
- Assessing break-even yields at various commodity prices
Tips
- Use conservative yield estimates for financial planning and optimistic scenarios for marketing targets
- Track yield data by field over multiple years to build reliable averages
- Consider basis adjustments when using futures prices for local revenue estimates
- Subtract variable and fixed costs from gross revenue to determine true profitability
Questions people ask
- How do I estimate yield per acre before harvest?
- Pre-harvest yield estimates can come from crop scouting (kernel counts, pod counts), historical field averages, county yield data from USDA, or crop insurance APH yields. Many farmers also use satellite imagery and precision ag tools for in-season yield estimation.
- What is the difference between gross and net revenue?
- Gross revenue is total production multiplied by price, before any costs are deducted. Net revenue (profit) subtracts all production costs including seed, fertiliser, chemicals, fuel, equipment, labor, land costs, and overhead. Net margins in row crops typically range from 10-30% of gross revenue.
- Should I use cash price or futures price?
- Use your local cash price for immediate delivery estimates. For forward planning, use futures prices minus your local basis. Basis is the difference between local cash and futures prices and varies by location, time of year, and local supply/demand conditions.