Granular calculator helps crop rotation decisions

PEOTONE, Ill. — Rising fertilizer and input costs are making the decision to plant corn versus soybeans especially difficult for growers seeking maximum profit potential this season.

While some growers are considering a switch to soybeans as a way to avoid costly fertilizer expenses, that may just shift nutrient focus.

“While soybeans don’t typically require a nitrogen application, they still remove nutrients,” said Matt Clover, Pioneer agronomy manager.

“A high-yielding soybean crop can remove as much as 84 pounds of potassium on a per-acre basis. Compare that to a high-yielding corn crop, which only removes about 55 pounds per acre. In the end, soybeans are still removing a substantial amount of nutrients off that field.”

Farmers can use a crop rotation return on investment calculator like Granular to make the decision a little easier.

The Corn vs. Soybean calculator is based on data from more than 42 million acres.

Profit boils down to yield, multiplied by price, minus cost. Granular’s calculator allows farmers to run those calculations at desired price levels and determine where the most profitable acreage mix falls.

Check out the calculator at granular.ag/corn-vs-beans-profitability-calculator.