ORGANIC CROP PLANNING GUIDE 2010 BLACK SoiL Zone AGRICULTURE FARM MANAGEMENT
ORGANIC CROP PLANNING GUIDE 2010 BLACK SOil ZONe Each year, The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture assembles Crop Planning Guides to help producers estimate their costs of producing various crops. The following crop budgets are intended to serve as a guide to estimate the income and cost for different crops using organic farming practices. These estimates do not represent provincial average cost of production figures. The figures provide an estimate of variable expenses and other expenses (depreciation and investment cost for machinery, buildings and land). The crop prices and yields are based on a combination of data from a survey of organic farmers in 2009, current prices used by Saskatchewan Crop Insurance for calculating claims and recent quotes from Saskatchewan based organic crop buyers. Yields are based on a Saskatchewan-wide average. On each farm, costs and yields differ due to soil type, climatic conditions and agronomic practices. Farm managers should determine their own costs, yields and expected commodity prices and adjust or change the assumptions listed on the back of this publication. Blank worksheets are provided for this purpose. Using the Guide When comparing returns per acre of different crops, you must add the green manure costs to the costs of growing harvested crops. The best way of comparing different rotations is to calculate the returns per rotation acre for different rotations of crops. Refer to the example in this guide. The break-even yields per acre show the level of yields producers would need to achieve to cover costs based on the estimated market price. The break-even prices for crops show the levels of prices needed by producers to cover costs if the estimated average yields are obtained. Farm managers are advised to interpret these figures very carefully, and evaluate new information as it becomes available. Profitability and Agronomics These crop budgets can be used to assist producers in deciding which crops will be the most profitable for the coming year or in deciding which crop rotations and farming practices may be the most profitable for the farm over the long term. However, long term profitability and sustainability includes many factors such as fertility, disease, weed and insect management that must also be considered when choosing crops and rotations. Planning Deciding which crops to grow this coming year should be based on a long-term rotation. When looking at long-term decisions such as crop rotations, you must look at all the costs, including fixed costs. The return over total expenses should be the basis of comparison between alternatives. Within your long-term rotation, you may have some flexibility in your crop choices. Deciding which crops to grow this coming year can be made by comparing the return over variable expenses (estimated gross revenue minus variable expenses).
Black Soil Zone Assumptions 2010 1. Alfalfa cost assumptions taken from Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture - Dryland Forage Production Costs 2. Seed including cleaning Organic spring wheat 1.5 bu/ac at $8.31/bu. Organic CPS wheat 1.5 bu/ac at $7.39/bu. Organic feed barley 1.5 bu/ac at $5.18/bu. Organic oats 2.25 bu/ac at $3.83/bu. Organic large green lentils 90 lbs/ac at $0.51/lb. Organic food green peas 3 bu/ac at $12.28/bu. Organic brown flax 0.67 bu/ac at $15.33/bus. Organic red clover 8 lbs/ac at $1.40/lb. Organic Indianhead lentil 35 lbs/ac at $0.80/lb. Organic alfalfa 8 lbs/ac at $1.85/lb. 3. Organic fertilizers Organic lentils, peas, alfalfa, red clover, Indianhead lentil: inoculation 100 per cent of acres No organic phosphorus, potassium or sulfur costs were applied in these budgets. 4. Fuel costs are taken from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture - Crop Planning Guide, Black Soil 5. Machinery repair costs are taken from the Saskatchewan 6. Custom work and hired labour costs are taken from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture - Crop Planning Guide, Black Soil 7. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) premiums are based on a varied percentage of the conventional crop risk area s coverage. 8. Utilities and Miscellaneous is taken from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture - Crop Planning Guide, Black Soil 16. Investment cost on building and machinery investment is calculated at an interest rate of 4.1 per cent on the investment per acre. 17. Land investment cost of $21.20/ac is calculated at 4.5 per cent return on investment rate. 18. Transition crop prices are farm gate price estimates taken from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture - Crop Planning Guide, Black Soil 19. Certified organic crop prices are a combination of farm gate prices received by interviewing organic farmers in Saskatchewan in 2009, current prices used by Saskatchewan Crop Insurance for calculating claims, and recent quotes from Saskatchewan based buyers of organic crops. Organic alfalfa, red clover, chickling vetch and Indianhead lentil yields were taken from personal communication with organic farmers and agronomists. 20. Crop yields are a combination of data from organic producers and a percentage of stubble crop conventional yields, taken from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture - Crop Planning Guide, Black Soil Organic spring wheat, CPS wheat, feed barley, oats: 75 per cent of conventional yield. Organic large green lentils, peas, flax: 50 per cent of conventional yield. Organic alfalfa, red clover and Indianhead lentil yields taken from personal communication with organic farmers and agronomists. 21. Labour and Management These budgets do not include an estimate for owner/operator labour and management. This value varies greatly and farm managers need to determine their own labour and management cost. 9. Operating interest is calculated on all cash operating costs at 3.1 per cent for 6 months on harvested crops, 18 months for green manure plow-down crops. 10. Building repair costs are taken from the Saskatchewan 11. Property tax is taken from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture - Crop Planning Guide, Black Soil 12. Insurance and Licenses is taken from the Saskatchewan 13. Machinery depreciation is calculated at 10 per cent of machinery investment per year on a straight line basis. 14. Building depreciation is taken from the Saskatchewan 15. Average machinery investment is taken from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture - Crop Planning Guide, Black Soil Soil Zones of Saskatchewan
CROP PRODUCTION COSTS ($/ACRE) BLACK SOIL ZONE 2010 REVENUE PER ACRE Transition Crops Alfalfa Alfalfa Alfalfa Spring CPS Feed Oats Large Green Feed Brown Tillage Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Wheat Wheat Barley Lentils Peas Flax Fallow Estimated Yield (bu/ac,lb/ac,tonne/ac) (A) 2.0 2.0 28.7 35.6 44.2 55.7 543.0 17.3 10.8 Est. on Farm Market Price/bus,lb,tonne (B) 72.00 72.00 4.75 4.22 2.96 2.19 0.30 4.76 8.76 Estimated Gross Revenue/ac (AxB)=(C) 0.00 144.00 144.00 136.33 150.23 130.83 121.98 162.90 82.35 94.61 0.00 EXPENSES PER ACRE Variable Expenses/acre Seed 14.80 12.47 11.09 7.77 8.62 45.90 23.55 10.27 Forage Costs - Seeding 15.00 - Harvesting 14.68 14.68 - Breaking 16.06 Machinery Operating - Fuel 12.24 12.24 12.24 12.24 15.84 13.68 13.68 12.24 - Repair 6.18 6.18 6.18 6.18 10.04 10.04 8.24 6.18 Custom Work and Hired Labour 10.13 10.13 8.13 8.13 8.13 7.38 8.13 Crop Insurance Premium 9.96 14.14 8.25 9.33 18.46 9.26 13.98 Utilities and Miscellaneous 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 Interest on Variable Expenses 0.55 0.32 0.56 0.88 0.92 0.75 0.78 1.61 1.08 0.93 1.12 Total Variable Expenses (D) 36.01 20.66 36.96 57.52 60.36 48.98 50.94 105.64 70.65 60.89 25.20 Other Expenses/acre Building Repair 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 Property Taxes 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 Insurance and Licences 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 Machinery Depreciation 20.60 20.60 20.60 20.60 25.10 25.10 20.60 20.60 Building Depreciation 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 Machinery Investment 6.39 6.39 6.39 6.39 7.78 7.78 6.39 6.39 Building Investment 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 Land Investment 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 Total Other Expenses (E) 34.52 34.52 34.52 61.51 61.51 61.51 61.51 67.40 67.40 61.51 61.51 Labour and Management (F)* Total Expenses (D+E+F)=(G) 70.53 55.18 71.48 119.03 121.87 110.49 112.45 173.04 138.05 122.40 86.71 Green Manure Total Cost (H)** 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Total Rotational Expense (G+H)=(I) 70.53 55.18 71.48 119.03 121.87 110.49 112.45 173.04 138.05 122.40 86.71 RETURNS PER ACRE Return over Variable Expenses (C-D) -36.01 123.34 107.04 78.81 89.87 81.85 71.04 57.26 11.70 33.72-25.20 Return over Total Rotational Expenses (C-I) -70.53 88.82 72.52 17.30 28.36 20.34 9.53-10.14-55.70-27.79-86.71 BREAK-EVEN YIELD PER ACRE To Cover Variable Expenses 0.3 0.5 12.1 14.3 16.5 23.3 352.1 14.8 7.0 To Cover Total Rotational Expenses 0.8 1.0 25.1 28.9 37.3 51.3 576.8 29.0 14.0 BREAK-EVEN PRICE PER BUS/LB To Cover Variable Expenses 10.33 18.48 2.00 1.70 1.11 0.91 0.19 4.08 5.64 To Cover Total Rotational Expenses 27.59 35.74 4.15 3.42 2.50 2.02 0.32 7.98 11.33 The budget for alfalfa in year 1 is representative of seeding alfalfa separately. This budget cannot be used if the alfalfa is underseeded into the previous crop. *These budgets do not include an estimate for owner/operator labour and management. This value varies greatly and depends both on the farm manager s needs as well as the ability of the farm business to generate income. Farm managers need to determine their own actual labour and management cost and add it to total expenses.
Green Manure Plow-Down Certified Organic Green Manure (Harvested for Seed/Forage) Certified Organic Crops Red Indianhead Red Indianhead Alfalfa (Harvested for Forage) Spring CPS Feed Oats Large Green Food Green Brown Clover Lentil Clover Lentil Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Wheat Wheat Barley Lentils Peas Flax 250.0 600.0 2.0 2.0 28.7 35.6 44.2 55.7 543.0 17.3 10.8 1.40 0.80 72.00 72.00 8.31 7.39 5.18 3.83 0.51 12.28 15.33 0.00 0.00 350.00 480.00 0.00 144.00 144.00 238.50 263.08 228.96 213.33 276.93 212.44 165.56 11.20 28.00 11.20 28.00 14.80 12.47 11.09 7.77 8.62 45.90 36.84 10.27 15.00 14.68 14.68 16.06 12.24 15.84 12.24 15.84 12.24 12.24 12.24 12.24 15.84 13.68 13.68 6.18 10.04 6.18 10.04 6.18 6.18 6.18 6.18 10.04 10.04 8.24 10.13 8.13 10.13 10.13 8.13 8.13 8.13 7.38 8.13 15.94 22.62 13.20 14.93 25.84 13.89 20.97 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 5.66 1.64 2.77 0.70 1.05 0.55 0.32 0.56 0.97 1.05 0.82 0.86 1.73 1.36 1.04 36.92 62.31 46.11 68.72 36.01 20.66 36.96 63.59 68.97 54.00 56.62 113.14 88.85 67.99 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 6.53 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 20.60 25.10 20.60 25.10 20.60 20.60 20.60 20.60 25.10 25.10 20.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 6.39 7.78 6.39 7.78 6.39 6.39 6.39 6.39 7.78 7.78 6.39 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 21.20 61.51 67.40 61.51 67.40 34.52 34.52 34.52 61.51 61.51 61.51 61.51 67.40 67.40 61.51 98.43 129.71 107.62 136.12 70.53 55.18 71.48 125.10 130.48 115.51 118.13 180.54 156.25 129.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 98.43 129.71 107.62 136.12 70.53 55.18 71.48 125.10 130.48 115.51 118.13 180.54 156.25 129.50-36.92-62.31 303.89 411.28-36.01 123.34 107.04 174.91 194.11 174.96 156.71 163.79 123.59 97.57-98.43-129.71 242.38 343.88-70.53 88.82 72.52 113.40 132.60 113.45 95.20 96.39 56.19 36.06 32.9 85.9 0.3 0.5 7.7 9.3 10.4 14.8 221.9 7.2 4.4 76.9 170.2 0.8 1.0 15.1 17.7 22.3 30.8 354.0 12.7 8.4 0.18 0.11 10.33 18.48 2.22 1.94 1.22 1.02 0.21 5.14 6.30 0.43 0.23 27.59 35.74 4.36 3.67 2.61 2.12 0.33 9.03 11.99 **The harvested crop budgets do not include any costs from the green manure year(s). Farm managers need to include the cost of a green manure crop when calculating the cost of a crop rotation, either by adding to the cost of other crops (Item H), or adding the green manure as a separate crop as part of a total rotation cost calculation.
Please contact your nearest Regional Office Specialist for the latest information on topics including crops and livestock, nutrient management and the economic implications of management decisions. Saskatchewan Agriculture Regional Offices Kindersley (306) 463-5513 Outlook (306) 867-5575 Swift Current (306) 778-8218 Watrous (306) 946-3220 Moose Jaw 1-866-457-2377 Prince Albert (306) 953-2363 Tisdale (306) 878-8842 Weyburn (306) 848-2857 North Battleford (306) 446-7964 Yorkton (306) 786-1531 Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture For more information, contact your nearest Regional Office or call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre Toll-Free: 1-866-457-2377 www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca Updated April 2010