Decision Tools

Crops - Livestock - Whole Farm - Business Development - Renewable Energy

Crops

Costs & Returns    

Pasture Cost Improvement Budgets (8 Decision Tools)
Use these decision tools to determine the initial cost per acre for improving:

 A1-15
Hay Storage Cost Comparison
Use this decision tool to compare costs for various types of hay storage		 A1-15

Fruit & Vegetable Budgets (15 Decision Tools)
Use these decision tools to estimate the costs and returns for fruit and vegetable production. Budgets are available for:

A1-17
Organic Crop Production Enterprise Budgets (4 Decision Tools)
Use these decision tools to estimate the costs and returns for growing Organic Corn, Organic Soybeans, Organic Oats, and Organic Alfalfa		 A1-18

Crop Production Costs Budgets (14 Decision Tools)
Use these decision tools to project the costs and returns of growing:

 A1-20
Breakeven Worksheet for Crops
Use this decision tool to find cash-flow requirements per acre and break-even selling prices per bushel or ton for individual crops.		 A1-20
Crop Rotation Summary
Use this decision tool to estimate the returns for different crop rotations.		 A1-20
Production Cost for Winter Canola
Use this decision tool for estimating costs and returns for winter canola production in Iowa 		A1-24
Making the Transition from Conventional to Organic Production
Use this decision tool to help analyze the transition process from conventional to organic production.		 A1-26
To Grow or not to Grow: A Tool for Comparing Returns to Switchgrass for Bioenergy with Annual Crops and CRP
Use this decision tool to economically compare how well switchgrass will perform compared to current crop production systems.		 A1-27
Miscanthus Following Pasture/Hay
Use this decision tool to estimate costs for Miscanthus production.		 A1-28
Switchgrass Following Pasture/Hay
Use this decision tool to estimate costs of establishment and returns for raising switchgrass.		 A1-29
ARC-CO Payment Calculator for 2014/15
Use this decision tool to estimate payments for the ARC-CO program for the 2014 crop year (payments made in October 2015)		 A1-32
ARC-CO Payment Calculator for 2015/16
Use this decision tool to estimate payments for the ARC-CO program for the 2015 crop year (payments made in October 2016)		 A1-32
ARC-CO Payment Calculator for 2016/17
Use this decision tool to project payments for the ARC-CO program for the 2016 crop year (payments made in October 2017).		 A1-32
ARC-CO Payment Calculator for 2017/18
Use this decision tool to project payments for the ARC-CO program for the 2017 crop year (payments made in October 2018).		 A1-32
Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Payment Calculator
Use this decision tool to estimate payments under the PLC program for 2014, 2015 and 2016 crop years.		 A1-32
ARC-CO & PLC Per Acre Payment Estimator for Iowa, 2023-2024
Use this decision tool to estimate Iowa payments by county for the ARC-CO and PLC 2018 Farm Bill programs for 2023-2024.		   A1-33
ARC-CO & PLC Per Acre Payment Estimator for Iowa, 2019-2022
Use this decision tool to project Iowa payments by county for the ARC-CO and PLC 2018 Farm Bill programs for 2022-2023 and view historical payment data by county for 2019-2021 crops.		   A1-33
ARC-CO & PLC Payments by Crop and County for Iowa, 2014-2018
Use this decision tool to view Iowa payment details by county for the ARC-CO and PLC 2014 Farm Bill programs for 2014-2018.		   A1-33
ISU Farm Bill Analyzer
Use this education tool to analyze the decision points for corn and soybean producers in the 2014 Farm Bill.		   A1-33
PLC Yield Update Tool: Farm Bill 2018 A1-35
Farm Bill Calculator
Use this calculator to see potential payments for the 2014 Farm Bill.		   A1-36
Market Facilitation Program Calculator
Use this decision tool to estimate payments under the 2018 Market Facilitation Program		 A1-37
Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) County Yield History for Iowa
Use this decision tool to see past expected and final county level Iowa yields used in the SCO and ECO programs. 		A1-44
Crop Insurance Comparison
Use this decision tool to compare different crop insurance strategies for corn and soybeans.		 A1-48
Delayed Planting and Replanting Evaluator
Use this decision tool to evaluate delayed planting, replanting and prevented planting alternatives as it relates to individual crop insurance coverage.		 A1-57
Silage Pricer
Use this decision tool to estimate a minimum and maximum price for corn or oat silage standing in the field or harvested and stored.		 A1-65
Corn Stover Pricer
Use this decision tool to estimate a price for corn stover standing in the field or harvested and stored.		 A1-70
Net Returns to Carbon Farming --AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
Use these decision tools to calculate net returns to carbon farming in Iowa and surrounding states.
A1-78
Rotation Profitability Calculator
Use this decision tool to compare return to management on different crop rotations and find the break-even price.		 A1-80
Rotation Profitability Calculator - using optimal nitrogen rate
Use this decision tool to compare return to management on different crop rotations using the optimal rate of nitrogen.		 A1-80
Economic Analysis of Foliar Fungicide Treatment on Corn
Use this decision tool to analyze the economic impact of fungicide application for a farm operation.		 A1-81
Weed Management Budgeting Tool - Harrison County
Use this decision tool to evaluate the long-run costs of farming practice changes to manage weed resistance in Harrison County, Iowa.		 A1-87
Economics of Cover Crops
Use this decision tool to analyze projected or actual economic costs and benefits for cover crops, with or without grazing and harvesting.		   A1-91
Evaluating Organic Transitions at the Field Level
Use this Decision Tool to evaluate the transition to organic production across a 10-year period		   A1-96

 

Storage & Markets    
Comparison of Drying Systems Calculator
Use this decision tool to compare total drying cost per bushel based on the type of drying system and price inputs.		 A2-31
Corn Drying and Shrink Comparison
Use this decision tool to compare alternatives for wet grain at harvest. 		A2-32
Monthly Cost for Storing Grain
Use this decision tool to project the cost of storing grain past harvest in existing storage facilities or commercial storage.		 A2-33
Grain Storage Investment Comparison
Use this decision tool to compare the cost for on-farm storage, commercial storage, rental farm storage, or in a storage condominium investment. 		A2-35
Hay Storage Cost Comparison
Use this decision tool to compare costs for various types of hay storage		 A2-37

 

Outlook & Prices    
Season Average Price Calculator
This decision tool uses monthly grain prices and futures prices to estimate the season average price for corn and soybeans.		 A2-15

 

Machinery    

Historical Iowa Custom Rate Averages
Use this decision tool to access average custom rates reporting on the annual ISU Custom Rate Survey from 2000 through the current year.

A3-12
Determining the Custom Operator's Share of the Crop
Use this decision tool to compute an equitable share of the crop to give the custom operator instead of a cash payment. 		A3-13
Farm Machinery Financing Analyzer
 Use this decision tool to compare the cost the cost of owning vs. leasing farm machinery.		 A3-21
  A3-35
Estimating the Field Capacity of Farm Machines
Use this decision tool to estimate the acreage capacity of a new machine.		 A3-24
Matching Tractor Power and Implement Size
Use this decision tool to match the size of a tractor to the size of an implement.		 A3-28
Estimating the Number of Field Days Required
Use this decision tool to estimate the number of field days required to complete a field operation. 		A3-28
Estimating Farm Machinery Costs
Use this decision tool to estimate the cost of owning and operating farm machinery. 		A3-29
Grain Transportation Costs
Use this decision tool to find ownership and operator costs for transporting grain by wagon or truck.		 A3-29
Combine Ownership or Custom Hire
Use this decision tool to help you compare the cost of owning a combine to the cost of custom hire. 		A3-33
Joint Machinery Ownership
Use this decision tool to compute each party's cost of jointly owning machinery.		 A3-34
Farm Machinery Joint Venture Worksheet
Use this decision tool to compute each party's initial capital contribution and annual payments and operating expenses for a joint venture.		 A3-38
Motor Vehicle Cost Analyzer
Use this decision tool to calculate ownership and operating costs for a vehicle per mile and per year.		 A3-40
Grain Bid Price Comparison
Use this decision tool to compare grain delivery to multiple buyer locations based on transportation costs, cash grain bids, and adjustments for moisture by delivery location.		 A3-41
GH2 System Sizing Tool -- A3-42
Use this decision tool to analyze a farm operation’s current grain harvesting and handling equipment and plan for future expansions.		 A3-42

 

Livestock

Costs & Returns    

Livestock Enterprise Budgets (12 Decision Tools)
Use these decision tools to project the profitability of

B1-21
Cow Herd Budget Model
Use this decision tool to compare cost and returns for two to four different types and or sizes of beef cattle operations.		   B1-25
Livestock Revenue Protection (LRP) Analyzer
Use this decision tool to compare the price risk protection available with Livestock Revenue Protection to using futures contracts, put options or no price protection.		 B1-50
Managed Hay and Grazing of CRP Acres
Use this calculator to analyze costs for managed haying or grazing of CRP acres. 		B1-60
Manure Calculator
Use this decision tool to analyze the value of manure nutrient components.		 B1-65
Buying heifers for beef cow replacement (one replacement unit)
This decision tool is for a producer that typically develops their own heifers and is considering purchasing replacement females in a given year.		 B1-73
Raising heifers for beef cow replacement (one replacement unit)
 This decision tool is for a producer that typically purchases replacement females and is considering developing heifers in a given year. 		B1-73
Net Present Value of Beef Replacement Females (single replacement)
Use this decision tool to find the net present value of beef replacement females.		 B1-74
Net Present Value of Beef Replacement Females (group of replacements)
Use this decision tool to find the net present value for a group of beef replacement females.		 B1-74
Pig Survivability Project: Wean-to-finish mortality economic modeling
Use this decision tool to analyze the impact a change in mortality has on revenue and cost for a wean-to-finish swine operation.		 B1-78
Pig Survivability Project: Breed-to-wean mortality economic modeling
Use this decision tool to analyze the impact a change in mortality has on revenue and cost for a breed-to-wean swine operation. 		B1-79

 

Markets    
Cow Sell Calculator
Use this spreadsheet to compares opportunities for marketing cows now or incurring additional costs to target other (later) markets.		 B2-35
Cow Repurchase Calculator
Use this spreadsheet to estimate the costs saved and interest earned on sale proceeds between sale and repurchase date.		 B2-35
Simple Hog Market Calculator
Use this decision tool to evaluate the added return per head from marketing hogs a few days later and at a heavier weight.		 B2-53
Swine Marketing Decision Calculator
Use this decision tool for help in evaluating optimal marketing weight.		 B2-53
Iowa Livestock and Poultry Corn Use Calculator
This tool combines Iowa livestock and poultry population statistics with livestock production budgets to calculate feed use under several pre-determined scenarios. 		B2-55

Whole Farm

Costs & Returns    
Crop and Livestock Land Use Analyzer
Use this decision tool to analyze and compare the potential long-term effects for various land use choices.		 C1-15
Partial Budgeting
Use this decision tool to evaluate the financial effect of incremental changes for a farm business.		 C1-50
Comparison of Customer, Competition or Cost Based Pricing
Use this decision tool to compare product pricing based on market competition or cost based approaches.		 C1-55

 

Leasing    
Estimated Returns by Farm Lease Arrangement
Use this decision tool to estimate returns to a landowner and tenant under different rental agreements, including cash rent, flexible rent, crop-share, or a custom farming agreement.		 C2-01
Farmland Lease Annual Report
This decision tool is an alternative to the form included in the Information File and is a communication tool for sharing information between leasing parties on an annual basis. 		C2-06
Cash Rental Rate Estimation
Use this decision tool to compare different methods of computing Cropland Cash Rent.		 C2-20
Flexible Lease Agreement Worksheet
Use this decision tool to analyze a flexible lease arrangement. 		C2-21
Calculating Hay and Pasture Cash Rents
Use this decision tool to compare different methods of computing rent for hay and pasture ground.		 C2-23

Computing a Grain Storage Rental Rate
Use this decision tool to estimate a grain storage and/or dryer rental rate.

 C2-24
Computing a Livestock Building Cash Rental Rate
 Use this decision tool to estimate a livestock building rental rate.		 C2-26
Crop Share Analysis
Use this decision tool to analysis a crop-share lease arrangement based on the percentage of inputs provided by the tenant and owner.		 C2-30
Beef Cow Share Agreement Analysis
Use this decision tool to estimate costs and returns for each party in a beef cow share agreement. 		C2-36

 

Land Values    
Farmland Purchase Analysis
Use this decision tool to compare the economic and financial impacts of purchasing a parcel of farmland.		 C2-70
Historical Farmland Value Survey (Iowa State University)
This spreadsheet provides historical Iowa land values for county, district, and state beginning in 1950. 		  C2-70
Calculating a Weighted Average Corn Suitability Rating
Use this decision tool to find the weighted CSR2 based on information from the Web Soil Survey. 		C2-87
Iowa Township Names and Geographic Locations by County
This electronic spreadsheet provides a listing of the political townships for every county in Iowa.		 C2-88
Farmland Tile Drainage Investment Analysis
Use this decision tool to analyze returns from a tile drainage investment. 		C2-90

 

Financial    
Cash Flow Budget (short form - 12 periods)
Use this decision tool to make a simple cash flow projection over 12 periods.		 C3-14
Cash Flow Budget (multiple enterprises)
Use this decision tool to calculate a detailed cash-flow budget for your farm. 		C3-15
Net Worth Statement (short form)
Use this decision tool to make a simple net worth statement.		 C3-19
Cash to Accrual Net Farm Income Worksheet
Prepares an accrual net income statement from income tax schedules and net worth statements.		 C3-26
Computing Benefits from Adding Additional Off-farm Work
Use this decision tool to compare various income and expenses from multiple options of employment.		 C3-51
Financial Performance Measures
Use this decision tool to calculate financial performance measures for your farm that can be compared to industry standards.		 C3-55
Interpreting Financial Performance Measures
Use this decision tool to create a five-year trend analysis.		 C3-56
Comprehensive Financial Statements
Use this decision tool to calculate a comprehensive set of financial statements including the beginning and ending net worth statements, the income statement, the cash-flow statement, the statement of owner equity, and the financial performance measures. Also available as an Example of Farm Financial Statements.		 C3-56
Farm Financial Performance Analysis
Allows you to enter information from a Schedule F for up to 5 years and calculate multiple financial ratios to determine the financial health of a farm operation.		 C3-59
Benchmarking Family Living Expenses in Agriculture
Family living is another aspect for the management of a farm business. Use this Decision Tool to benchmark internally and externally multiple family living categories. 		C3-64
Benchmarking Family Living Expenses in Agriculture
Family living is another aspect for the management of a farm business. Use this Decision Tool to benchmark internally and externally multiple family living categories. 		C3-66
Dividing Business Income
Use this decision tool to calculate how to divide income between different parties.		 C4-16

 

Weights & Measurements    
Metric Conversions
Use this decision tool for converting between English and Metric units.		 C6-80
Estimated Storage Capacity for Grains, Forages, and Liquids
Use this decision tool to estimate the storage capacity for grain bins, bales storage, water and fuel tanks.		 C6-82

 

Business Decisions

Weights & Measurements    
Grant In-Kind Match Contributions
Use this decision tool to keep track of in-kind match for matching grants.		 C5-06
Travel Expense Voucher
Use this decision tool to keep track of travel expenditures for reimbursement.		 C5-06
Value-Added Processing Facility Start-up Costs
Use this decision tool to estimate the start-up cost of a value-added processing facility. You can also use this spreadsheet to monitor your budgeted expenditures. 		C5-113

 

Marketing    
Marketing Outlet Analyzer
Use this spreadsheet to evaluate different market outlets based on their potential contribution to overall farm net income. 		C5-32

 

Renewable Energy

Outlook & Prices    
Monthly Profitability of Ethanol Production
View the monthly profitability and underlying assumptions.		 D1-10
Monthly Profitability of Biodiesel Production
View the monthly profitability of biodiesel production.		   D1-15

 

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