Input Cost

Combine during harvest
Available in Excel and PDF formats, Nebraska Extension's annual crop budgets can be customized using the Agricultural Budget Calculator (ABC) program, with free training sessions offered to maximize its utility.

2025 Nebraska Crop Budgets Available Now

November 21, 2024
This comprehensive resource includes cost estimates for all major Nebraska crops — including a new budget for irrigated popcorn — and provides detailed projections for inputs like machinery, labor, fuel and materials, reflecting current market conditions.

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Field under cloudy sky
Although field operation costs are projected higher for 2024, some material input costs are lower than were projected for 2023, due in part to fertilizer prices and continued improvement of application practices. (Center for Ag Profitability photo)

2024 Nebraska Crop Budgets — A Mixed Review With Some Costs Higher, Some Lower

November 17, 2023
Glennis McClure, Nebraska Extension educator and farm and ranch management analyst, reviews her projections for cost of crop production in 2024.

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Combine in field
Glennis McClure, an extension educator and farm and ranch management analyst with the Center for Agricultural Profitability, will facilitate the workshops, which are free to attend and include Q&A sessions for participants. (USDA/Flickr photo)

Tracking Cost of Production During the Growing Season Using the Ag Budget Calculator (ABC) Program

July 28, 2023
In these workshops, ag finance professionals will guide participants through the process of creating customized crop budgets for owned and rented farms, determining costs on a per-farm or field basis, and more.

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Sprayer in field
The Agricultural Budget Calculator can help producers develop economic and cash enterprise budgets to determine breakeven prices and yields. (Center for Ag Profitability photo)

Using Breakeven Analysis for Better Decisions

June 30, 2023
Center for Ag Profitability Director Larry Van Tassell explains how to calculate breakeven prices and yields, and how the Agricultural Budget Calculator can help speed the process.

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Glennis McClure on RFD-TV

McClure Discusses 2023 Crop Production Challenges on RFD-TV

March 2, 2023
UNL Farm and Ranch Management Analyst Glennis McClure appeared on RFD-TV to discuss crop production costs and strategies for mitigating financial burdens during the 2023 growing season.

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Fertilizer spraying
USDA/Flickr (Public Domain)

Fertilizer Costs: What is Driving the Increase and How Can Growers Manage It?

February 9, 2022
An in-depth analysis of the factors influencing fertilizer prices in 2022, as well as recommendations for managing input costs.

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Tractor in field
USDA/Flickr

A Perfect Storm in Fertilizer Markets

December 2, 2021
Ag industry professionals review the elements at the root of steep increases in phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers prices this year.

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Tractor in field

Suggestions for Planning for Rising Fertilizer Prices and Bull Markets

November 30, 2021
Extension educators review how Nebraska farmers can make the best purchase decisions for 2022 as fertilizer and input prices continue to rise.

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