What is a realistic corn cost per acre?

Total corn production costs typically range from $650–$950 per acre depending on land rent, fertilizer, seed, chemicals, machinery, and crop insurance. Cash rent is often the single largest variable.

How do I calculate profit or loss per acre?

Profit per acre = (Expected yield x commodity price) minus total cost per acre. If corn yields 200 bu/ac at $4.50/bu = $900 revenue. Subtract $850 in costs = $50 profit per acre.

What costs should I include in a farm break-even calculation?

Include all direct costs: seed, fertilizer (N, P, K), herbicide, fungicide, insecticide, crop insurance, drying, trucking, and storage. Then add overhead: land rent or ownership cost, machinery depreciation, fuel, labor, and interest.

How does cash rent affect my break-even price?

Cash rent is typically the single largest per-acre cost for tenant farmers, often $150–$350/acre. Every $50/acre increase in rent raises your corn break-even by roughly $0.25–$0.28/bu at typical yields.

What is a what-if sensitivity table?

A sensitivity table shows profit or loss per acre across a range of price and yield combinations simultaneously. The break-even calculator builds a grid showing yield scenarios against price scenarios, with your current inputs highlighted so you can instantly see your risk exposure.

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AGSIST

Break-Even Analysis Report

Corn

agsist.com

Break-Even

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Market Price

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Profit/Acre

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Farm Total (500 ac)

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💰 BREAK-EVEN CALCULATOR

CROP & YIELD

Crop

Expected Yield (bu/ac) ?

Market Price ($/bu) ?

INPUT COSTS ($/ac)

Seed ?

Fertilizer ?

Chemicals ?

Crop Insurance ?

OPERATING COSTS ($/ac)

Machinery ?

Labor ?

Land Rent/Cost ?

Overhead ?

Cost Breakdown

RESULTS

Total Cost/Acre$808/ac

Cost/Bushel$4.49/bu

Break-Even Price$4.49/bu

Gross Revenue/Acre$810/ac

Net Profit/Loss+$2/ac

Return on Investment0.2%

Yield Needed @ Market180 bu/ac

Total Acres

Farm Total Profit/Loss

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Margin Indicator

-$200/acBreak-Even+$200/ac

What-If: Profit/Loss per Acre

❓ Break-Even Calculator — Common Questions

How do I calculate break-even price per bushel?

Divide your total cost per acre by your expected yield in bushels. For example: $850 per acre total cost ÷ 200 bu/ac expected yield = $4.25/bu break-even price for corn. This is the minimum futures price (before basis) at which you cover all expenses. The calculator above does this automatically as you enter your costs — the Break-Even Price result updates instantly. To stay profitable, your market price (futures + basis) needs to exceed this number.

What is a realistic corn production cost per acre in Wisconsin or Minnesota?

Total corn production costs in Wisconsin and Minnesota typically range from $700–$950 per acre for tenant farmers, or $550–$800 per acre for land-owners (without cash rent). The biggest variable is land cost — cash rent in prime WI/MN cropland ranges $150–$350/acre. Fertilizer (especially nitrogen) is typically the second-largest cost at $120–$200/acre. Seed runs $100–$160/acre for traited hybrids. The defaults in this calculator reflect a representative Upper Midwest tenant operation — adjust each line for your actual costs to get your true break-even.

How does cash rent affect my corn or soybean break-even price?

Cash rent is typically the single largest per-acre variable cost for tenant farmers, and it moves your break-even directly. Every $50/acre increase in land rent raises your corn break-even by roughly $0.25–$0.28/bu at 180 bu/ac yields. At 200 bu/ac, it's $0.25/bu per $50 rent increase. For soybeans at 55 bu/ac, every $50/acre rent increase adds about $0.91/bu to your break-even. This is why land rent negotiation is one of the highest-value conversations in farm management — the math is direct and permanent.

What costs should I include in a full farm break-even calculation?

A complete break-even includes two layers. Direct inputs: seed, fertilizer (N, P, K, lime, sulfur), herbicides (pre and post-emerge), fungicide, insecticide, crop insurance premium (net of subsidy), drying, and trucking. Overhead costs: land rent or property tax/ownership cost, machinery depreciation, fuel and lube, repairs and maintenance, labor (including your own time at a market wage), operating loan interest, and general farm overhead. Many producers undercount labor and depreciation — including your own time at $20–30/hr and machinery depreciation can add $50–120/acre to your true break-even.

What is the what-if sensitivity table and how do I use it?

The sensitivity table shows profit or loss per acre across 36 different combinations of yield and price simultaneously. Your current inputs are highlighted in green so you can immediately see where you stand. The rows show different yield scenarios (above and below your estimate) and the columns show different price scenarios. Red numbers are losses; green numbers are profitable outcomes. This lets you answer questions like: "If yields come in 10% below plan AND prices drop $0.30, what's my loss per acre?" — without running the calculator multiple times. It's most useful for evaluating crop insurance coverage levels and forward pricing decisions.