The “New” Economics of The “New” Economics of Crop Production in Crop Production in 2008 2008 Paul D. Mitchell Paul D. Mitchell Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Agricultural and Applied Agricultural and Applied Economics Economics University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Madison These slides are a conglomeration These slides are a conglomeration of slides from various extension of slides from various extension presentations made during Jan-Feb presentations made during Jan-Feb
29
Embed
The “New” Economics of Crop Production in 2008 Paul D. Mitchell Assistant Professor Agricultural and Applied Economics University of Wisconsin-Madison.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
The “New” Economics of The “New” Economics of Crop Production in 2008Crop Production in 2008
Paul D. MitchellPaul D. Mitchell
Assistant ProfessorAssistant Professor
Agricultural and Applied EconomicsAgricultural and Applied Economics
University of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison
These slides are a conglomeration of These slides are a conglomeration of slides from various extension slides from various extension
presentations made during Jan-Feb presentations made during Jan-Feb 20082008
Crop Prices are HighCrop Prices are High Closing prices on CBOT Tuesday 2/27Closing prices on CBOT Tuesday 2/27 Dec 08 corn $5.56/buDec 08 corn $5.56/bu Nov 08 soybean $14.27/buNov 08 soybean $14.27/bu Sep 08 wheat $11.42/buSep 08 wheat $11.42/bu Sep 08 oats $4.45/buSep 08 oats $4.45/bu
These prices drive the image that These prices drive the image that farmers are rolling in the moneyfarmers are rolling in the money
The “New” The “New” Economics of Corn Economics of Corn
Annual Annual increase increase (bu/ac) in (bu/ac) in NASS county NASS county average yield average yield from 1977 to from 1977 to 2006 as 2006 as estimated by estimated by regressionregression
But Input Costs Have But Input Costs Have IncreasedIncreased
Fertilizer prices are leading the wayFertilizer prices are leading the way Seed is also up about 15%Seed is also up about 15%FertilizerFertilizer 20082008 20072007 % %
increaseincreaseUreaUrea 505505 409409 23%23%
AnhydrousAnhydrous 775775 514514 51%51%
32% N Solution32% N Solution 403403 269269 50%50%
Ammonium Ammonium SulfateSulfate
240240 209209 15%15%
DAPDAP 578578 334334 73%73%
PotashPotash 418418 254254 65%65%Prices from first week January of each year.Prices from first week January of each year.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Co
sts
($/a
c)
corn
soybeans
U of IL non-land costs for corn and U of IL non-land costs for corn and soybean production in northern ILsoybean production in northern IL
Corn up $42/ac Corn up $42/ac from 2007from 2007
Soybeans up Soybeans up $18/ac$18/ac
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
An
nu
al
Incre
ase (
$/a
c)
corn
soybeans
Annual Increase: U of IL non-land Annual Increase: U of IL non-land costs for corn and soybeans in costs for corn and soybeans in
northern ILnorthern IL
Costs are Costs are Rising faster Rising faster and fasterand faster
$$$$
$$
The “Real” Economics of Corn and The “Real” Economics of Corn and SoybeansSoybeans
Quick Cost of Production Quick Cost of Production EstimatesEstimates
Quick cost of production estimates for Quick cost of production estimates for corn, soybeans and wheat in corn, soybeans and wheat in WisconsinWisconsin
Use major cost categoriesUse major cost categories Neither scientific nor rigorous, but Neither scientific nor rigorous, but
based on simple assumptionsbased on simple assumptions Farmers should do their own cost and Farmers should do their own cost and
WheatWheat Assume $30/acAssume $30/ac Lots of numbers out thereLots of numbers out there Depends on variety, germination rate, Depends on variety, germination rate,
Hard to estimate/measureHard to estimate/measure Very specificVery specific to each farmer to each farmer Use estimates for 2008 machinery Use estimates for 2008 machinery
costs from Iowa Sate Universitycosts from Iowa Sate University Adjusted upwards for WI about 25% Adjusted upwards for WI about 25%
for pre-harvest tillage, about 5% for for pre-harvest tillage, about 5% for harvestharvest Smaller fields and farmsSmaller fields and farms Higher custom ratesHigher custom rates
Does not include cost for Does not include cost for land, land, management, or investment of capitalmanagement, or investment of capital
Corn following Corn Corn following Corn vs. vs.
Corn following SoybeansCorn following Soybeans This cost estimate was corn following This cost estimate was corn following
soybeans, what about corn following soybeans, what about corn following corn?corn?
Need more N fertilizer: add 20 more lbsNeed more N fertilizer: add 20 more lbs 20 x 0.55 = $11/ac in added cost20 x 0.55 = $11/ac in added cost
Soil insecticide or transgenic hybrid for Soil insecticide or transgenic hybrid for corn rootworm controlcorn rootworm control $19/ac in added cost$19/ac in added cost
Together these imply $30/ac in added Together these imply $30/ac in added costcost Add $30 to corn costs in previous tableAdd $30 to corn costs in previous table
How do you decide what to How do you decide what to plant?plant?
Can use university budgets or other Can use university budgets or other peoples’ estimates of the yields, peoples’ estimates of the yields, prices, costs, and net returns to prices, costs, and net returns to different cropsdifferent crops
Problem: These are usually averages Problem: These are usually averages or even guessesor even guesses
Reality: Costs and returns vary Reality: Costs and returns vary greatly among farmersgreatly among farmers
You want You want youryour costs and returns costs and returns
1996 Data for 1996 Data for about 250 about 250 Minnesota Minnesota Corn and Corn and Soybean Soybean Farmers Farmers
Source: K. D. Olson and H. D. Source: K. D. Olson and H. D. Lohano “Will the true Lohano “Will the true cost of production please cost of production please stand up?”stand up?”
Corn
Soybeans
Illinois Data for 2006Illinois Data for 2006
Source: Gary Schnitkey “Crop Production Cost and Rotation Source: Gary Schnitkey “Crop Production Cost and Rotation Decisions”Decisions”
Making BudgetsMaking Budgets
Make budgets to estimate Make budgets to estimate youryour net net returns for corn after soybeans, plus returns for corn after soybeans, plus corn after corn, soybeans, and wheatcorn after corn, soybeans, and wheat
Budgets can be as simple or detailed Budgets can be as simple or detailed as you want to make them: as you want to make them: youyou decide decide
Estimate Estimate youryour costs and returns, as it costs and returns, as it is is youryour money, money, youryour responsibility, responsibility, youyou live with the consequences of live with the consequences of youryour decisionsdecisions
My GoalMy Goal
Present some resources you can usePresent some resources you can use Give you some things to think aboutGive you some things to think about
Most are internet based. If you want Most are internet based. If you want the electronic files or paper copies, the electronic files or paper copies, please contact me.please contact me.
UW Center for Dairy ProfitabilityUW Center for Dairy Profitability
www.cdp.wisc.edu/crop%20enterprise.htmwww.cdp.wisc.edu/crop%20enterprise.htm UW-Team Grains web pageUW-Team Grains web page
www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/teams/grains/www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/teams/grains/ My Extension web pageMy Extension web page
www.aae.wisc.edu/mitchell/extension.htmwww.aae.wisc.edu/mitchell/extension.htm Detailed Excel spreadsheets with base Detailed Excel spreadsheets with base
cases and then you enter your numberscases and then you enter your numbers
Estimating CostsEstimating Costs Variable Inputs: Easy = price times Variable Inputs: Easy = price times
quantity, then add them all upquantity, then add them all up Machinery/Equipment Costs: HarderMachinery/Equipment Costs: Harder Land, Labor, and ManagementLand, Labor, and Management
Usually the unpaid costs of your time, Usually the unpaid costs of your time, management skill, and energymanagement skill, and energy
Treat as residual: What’s left after you Treat as residual: What’s left after you pay for everything else?pay for everything else?
Then ask, Is it enough to justify all the Then ask, Is it enough to justify all the work?work?
Ron Schuler on UW Team Grains webpageRon Schuler on UW Team Grains webpage Google “Machinery Cost Estimates”Google “Machinery Cost Estimates” U of IL, U of MN, IA State, PurdueU of IL, U of MN, IA State, Purdue
Simple Rules of ThumbSimple Rules of Thumb ““Fast and Simple Method to Estimate Fast and Simple Method to Estimate
Typical Machinery Costs” on my web pageTypical Machinery Costs” on my web page Your cost 25%-50% higher than custom Your cost 25%-50% higher than custom
raterate It’s your money, you decide how much It’s your money, you decide how much
detail you want!detail you want!
What’s should I plant after last What’s should I plant after last year’s corn? year’s corn?
Once you have cost estimates you are Once you have cost estimates you are comfortable with, you can answer this comfortable with, you can answer this question with yield and price question with yield and price assumptionsassumptions
Should I plant corn after corn?Should I plant corn after corn? Should I plant soybeans instead?Should I plant soybeans instead? What about wheat?What about wheat?
Use your own yields, prices, and Use your own yields, prices, and costscosts
Main IdeaMain Idea
Develop cost estimates for your farmDevelop cost estimates for your farm Assume reasonable yields for your farmAssume reasonable yields for your farm What prices do you need to make What prices do you need to make
soybeans and wheat equal to corn after soybeans and wheat equal to corn after corn returns?corn returns?
How likely are you to get these prices or How likely are you to get these prices or better?better?
Change your assumptions to see how Change your assumptions to see how sensitive your finding aresensitive your finding are
Other Factors to ConsiderOther Factors to Consider Prices and yields can be higher or lower than Prices and yields can be higher or lower than
you assumed: few years are average yearsyou assumed: few years are average years Growing more corn means more acres to Growing more corn means more acres to
plant and more acres to harvestplant and more acres to harvest More labor and/or different equipment needed, More labor and/or different equipment needed,
which increases costswhich increases costs Yield losses if you can’t get all of your fields Yield losses if you can’t get all of your fields
planted or harvested in timeplanted or harvested in time More specialized, so more risk: weather, More specialized, so more risk: weather,
pest, or price issues that affect corn affect a pest, or price issues that affect corn affect a larger portion of your acreslarger portion of your acres
Questions?Questions?
Paul D. MitchellPaul D. Mitchell
UW-Madison Ag & Applied EconomicsUW-Madison Ag & Applied Economics