Assumptions and Procedures for Generic Farm

1. Total farm crop acreage amounts to 3,000 acres. This is the average of the producers interviewed with some having crop acres above and below the average.
    
2. Three different cropping and tillage systems were evaluated.
   • No Till−Spring Wheat (1,200 acres) with alternative crops such as Sunflowers (450 acres), Lentils (600 acres), Peas (300 acres), and Flax (450 acres)
   • No Till−Spring Wheat (900 acres), re-crop Spring Wheat (1,100 acres) with alternative crops Peas (100 acres), and Flax (200 acres), and 700 acres of Chemical Fallow
   • Conventional Till−Spring Wheat and Fallow (1,500 acres of each)
      
3. Other cropping systems and crops were used by producers interviewed, but are not listed in this report.
    
4. Average yields for each crop:



Crop	Yield
Spring Wheat	32 bushels
Spring Wheat after Fallow	38 bushels
Sunflowers	1,700 pounds
Lentils	30 bushels
Peas	32 bushels
Flax	21 bushels



5. Seeding rates for each crop:  

   Crop	Rate
   Spring Wheat	70 pounds
   Spring Wheat after Fallow	70 pounds
   Sunflowers	2.2 pounds
   Lentils	80 pounds
   Peas	180 pounds
   Flax	48 pounds



6. Fertilizer rates for each crop:  

   Crop	Rate
   Spring Wheat	150 pounds of 46-0-0, 50 pounds 11-52-0
   Spring Wheat after Fallow	50 pounds 11-52-0
   Sunflowers	100 pounds of 50-30-10-5
   Lentils	25 pounds 11-52-0
   Peas	35 pounds 11-52-0
   Flax	100 pounds 17-20-0-15 50, pounds 46-0-0



7. Fuel costs were $2.50 per gallon for diesel and $2.30 per gallon for gasoline.
    
8. Repairs were based on the following formula:
   Repairs = (Repair Factor x List Price of Machine x Hours of use per year) divided by the estimated life of the machine.
    
9. Oil costs are estimated at 15 percent of the cost of fuel.
    
10. Depreciation costs are based on the following formula:
    Depreciation = (List Price of Machine x Hours of use per year) divided by the estimated life of the machine.
     
11. Interest on machinery = Average value of the machine times the interest rate.
     
12. Interest on operation capital was figured at seven percent for 12 months.
     
13. Crop insurance rates for each crop:  

    Crop	Rate
    Spring Wheat	$4.25
    Spring Wheat after Fallow	$4.25
    Sunflowers	$4.25
    Lentils	$4.25
    Peas	$4.25
    Flax	None



14. Weed control for each crop:  

    Crop	Weed Control
    Spring Wheat	16 ounces Roundup 3.2 ounces Discover 0.3 ounces Bromax
    Spring Wheat after Fallow	16 ounces Roundup 3.2 ounces Discover 0.3 ounces Bromax
    Sunflowers	16 ounces Roundup 2 pints Sonalan 2 ounces Spartan
    Lentils	16 ounces Roundup 8 ounces Assure 2 ounces Spartan
    Peas	16 ounces Roundup 11 ounces Bronate 8 ounces Assure
    Flax	None

< Enterprise Costs and Returns for Different Cropping and Tillage Systems in Northeastern Montana