Crop Yield Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

Why report yield per acre instead of total bushels?

Land is the constrained resource, so the meaningful comparison is what each acre returned, not the raw total. A 40-acre field yielding 180 bu/ac and an 80-acre field yielding 140 bu/ac produce very different totals, but the first field is clearly the better performer.

What moisture should I use for comparing fields?

Convert all loads to a common moisture basis - typically 15.5% for corn and 13% for soybeans - before computing yield. Comparing fields with different harvest moisture contaminates the comparison with drydown differences that have nothing to do with productivity.

Does this handle non-bushel crops?

Any crop priced by the bushel works directly. For tons or hundredweight crops, keep your harvest and price in the same unit and the per-acre math still holds - the calculator is unit-agnostic. Enter total output in whatever unit your price is denominated in.

How do I account for in-field losses at harvest?

Combine header and separator losses typically run 1-3% of yield under normal conditions. Walk behind the combine early in harvest and count kernels per square foot to estimate header loss. This calculator does not model harvest losses - it works from the scale ticket total you actually delivered.

Provided by AllCalculators.io
Free online calculators for everyday. No registration required.

Estimates for informational purposes only.

Important Disclaimer: Estimates for informational purposes only.

This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results are based on assumptions and may not reflect actual outcomes. Consult qualified professionals in relevant fields before making important decisions based on these results.

JavaScript is required to use the interactive calculator above. The questions and answers below remain readable without JavaScript.

How This Calculator Works

Total bushels off the scale ticket tell you what came home, but yield is only meaningful per acre - that is the number you compare field to field, hybrid to hybrid, and year to year. This calculator divides your total harvest by the harvested acreage to give a clean yield per acre, the single most-quoted figure in row-crop agriculture. Add a cash price and it goes one step further, multiplying yield by price to show gross revenue per acre and the whole-field total, so you can weigh one crop against another or against your input costs. It is deliberately simple and unit-agnostic on the crop side - enter bushels of corn, wheat, soybeans, or any commodity priced by the bushel, and the per-acre and revenue math works the same.

Formula and Method

Yield per acre = total harvest (bushels) ÷ area (acres). Revenue per acre = yield per acre × price per bushel. Total revenue = total harvest × price per bushel. Price is optional - leave it blank and the tool reports yield alone. Zero or negative harvest or acreage is rejected so you never divide by zero or quote a negative yield. Note the calculator uses harvested acres, not planted acres. If a portion of the field failed, use the acres actually cut for an honest yield figure.

Worked Example

You combine 7,200 bushels of corn off 40 harvested acres and the local elevator bids $5.50 per bushel. Yield per acre = 7,200 ÷ 40 = 180 bu/ac. Revenue per acre = 180 × $5.50 = $990. Total revenue = 7,200 × $5.50 = $39,600. Now you can stack that $990 per acre against your seed, fertilizer, and cash-rent costs to see the margin the field actually returned.

Moisture and Test Weight

Grain is sold at a standard moisture: 15.5% for corn, 13.5% for soybeans, 13.5% for hard red winter wheat. If your elevator receives wet grain it applies a shrinkage discount before crediting your bushels. For a fair comparison between fields or hybrids, always settle on a single moisture basis before computing yield. A hybrid that yields 185 bu/ac at 18% moisture nets the same dry bushels as a 176 bu/ac hybrid at 15.5% - very different field totals, essentially the same grain check.

Test weight (lb per bushel) affects your check when it falls below the standard - 56 lb/bu for corn, 60 lb/bu for wheat. Low test weight from stress, disease, or immature grain triggers discounts at most elevators.

Common Mistakes

Dividing by planted acres instead of harvested acres - prevented or failed acres inflate the apparent loss, not the yield.

Mixing wet and dry bushels; settle on a moisture basis (usually 15.5% for corn) before comparing fields.

Quoting a yield from one good load and extrapolating - whole-field weight divided by whole-field acres is the only honest number.

Forgetting that price varies by delivery date and basis; the revenue figure is a snapshot, not a guarantee.

Comparing crops by total bushels rather than revenue per acre, which ignores how much land each one tied up.

Building a Yield History

A multi-year yield history by field is far more valuable than any single season's number. Consistent high-yielding ground often justifies higher input spending; consistently low-yielding acres may call for management changes, tile drainage, or a different crop rotation. Keep scale tickets and field maps together, record the harvested acreage precisely, and note the planted hybrid or variety, planting date, and notable weather events. Over five or ten seasons these records reveal management interactions that no single year can show.

Crop Yield Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Garden Calculators