There has been a lot of talk lately that corn planting delays due to cool, wet conditions will encourage some producers to shift intended corn acres to soybeans, but a resource from the University Illinois signals there is still some time remaining until it will be profitable to make that switch. The Farm Analysis Solution Tools (FAST) offers producers in the state a way to calculate when it is fiscally intelligent to do so.
The “Planting Decision Tool” calculates projected returns from corn and soybeans by planting date in northern, central and southern Illinois. Based on this tool, corn is projected to be more profitable than soybeans in all areas until late May, based on assumptions for harvest time prices of $5.30 for corn and $12.00 for soybeans. In central Illinois, corn is more profitable to plant all the way into June. The projections even take into account such things as high and low productivity of the farmland.
Of course, actual yields can vary widely from these projections depending upon the all-powerful weather. But this spreadsheet/online resource does give producers a nice starting point in making production decisions.
This resource also has the capability to calculate returns based on rotations, compare prevented planting crop insurance payments to planting and help evaluate replant decisions.
Learn more about the Planting Decisions Tool and the FAST resource.
