Crop Yield Profit Calculator
Calculate net farm profit by subtracting per-acre seed, fertilizer, labor, and equipment costs from total crop revenue. Use it when planning a new crop season or evaluating whether a particular field or crop is financially viable.
Last updated: September 2026
Net Profit
$9,200.00
Formula below · 2 sources (ers.usda.gov, extension.iastate.edu) · Updated Sep 2026
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About this calculator
Net profit = acres × yield per acre × price − acres × (seed + fertilizer + labor + equipment/fuel + other costs per acre). Gross revenue is total bushels times the price you expect to receive; the costs are scaled from per-acre figures to the whole farm. The 'other costs' field collects everything else on a crop budget: herbicides and other crop protection, drying, crop insurance, interest and land rent or ownership costs. Leaving them out makes almost any crop look profitable.
The tiles give profit per acre and two break-even figures: the price that just covers your costs at your yield, and the yield that covers them at your price. Compare them with local cash bids and your field's yield history; USDA ERS and state extension crop budgets publish typical costs to check your numbers against.
How to use
A farmer grows soybeans on 300 acres expecting 55 bu/acre at $10.50/bu. Costs per acre: seed $65, fertilizer $40, labor $30, equipment/fuel $55 and other costs $250 (crop protection, insurance and land rent), $440 in all. Revenue = 300 × 55 × $10.50 = $173,250. Costs = 300 × $440 = $132,000. Net profit = $41,250, or $137.50 per acre. Break-even price = $440 ÷ 55 = $8.00/bu; break-even yield = $440 ÷ $10.50 = 41.9 bu/acre.
Frequently asked questions
What costs should I include in the crop yield profit calculator for an accurate result?
Include every cost of growing the crop, per acre: seed, fertilizer, crop protection (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides), drying, custom hire, fuel and repairs, labor, crop insurance, interest on operating loans and land rent or the ownership cost of land you farm. The first four have their own fields; put the rest in 'other costs'. USDA ERS commodity costs and returns and state extension crop budgets list typical figures by crop and region.
How does market price volatility affect crop profit calculations?
Market price is typically the single largest driver of profit variability in crop farming, because it multiplies across every bushel produced. A $0.50/bu swing in corn price on a 500-acre farm yielding 200 bu/acre equals a $50,000 swing in gross revenue — with costs unchanged. This leverage effect makes it critical to model multiple price scenarios rather than relying on a single estimate. Tools like futures markets, options contracts, and forward cash contracts allow farmers to lock in prices above their break-even threshold and reduce exposure to downside price risk. Running this calculator at pessimistic, base, and optimistic price levels gives a realistic range of financial outcomes.
How can I use this crop profit calculator to compare different crops on the same land?
To compare crops, simply run the calculator separately for each crop option using the same acreage figure but substituting the appropriate yield, price, and input cost values for each. For example, compare corn at 200 bu/acre and $4.50/bu against soybeans at 55 bu/acre and $13.50/bu on 300 acres. Whichever scenario produces a higher net profit — or a higher profit per acre — is the more financially attractive rotation choice. Keep in mind that crop rotation itself has agronomic benefits (reduced disease pressure, nitrogen credit from legumes) that can lower future input costs, so a two-year rotation analysis often gives a more complete picture than evaluating a single crop year in isolation.
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