approximate input cost inquiry

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

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....

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