Break-Even Yield Calculator
Calculate the marketable crop yield needed to cover costs at a chosen sale price. The calculator can also estimate gross harvest yield before post-harvest loss.
Break-even crop yield
Find the minimum saleable yield needed to cover costs at the entered crop price, and the gross yield required before expected loss.
Enter your figures and select Calculate to see the result.
Formula and how it works
Required crop sales per area = max(0, production cost per area − other income per area). Marketable break-even yield = required crop sales per area ÷ crop sale price. Gross yield required = marketable break-even yield ÷ (1 − loss percentage ÷ 100).
Example
If net costs to recover are $500 per acre and crop price is $5 per bushel, break-even marketable yield is 100 bushels per acre. With 5% loss, gross yield needs to be about 105.26 bushels per acre.
Enter price and yield in the same output unit, and costs, income and yield on the same acre or hectare basis. At 100% loss, no finite gross yield can produce marketable output, so the loss input must be below 100%.
Farm budget methodology
Farm enterprise budgets separate receipts and costs so a farm can compare expected production economics using its own figures. Break-even analysis relates projected costs to expected price or yield. The tools here use only values entered by the user and do not supply crop price or yield forecasts.
- Penn State Extension — Budgeting for Agricultural Decision Making
- University of Minnesota Extension — Crop Budgets
Updated: 5 October 2026. This is an estimate, not financial, tax, insurance, agronomic or market advice.
Frequently asked questions
How is break-even yield calculated?
Divide production cost per area minus other income per area by the crop price per unit. If you enter post-harvest loss, the calculator then adjusts the required marketable yield to show the gross harvest yield needed.
What does marketable yield mean here?
Marketable yield is the portion of gross harvested output remaining after the post-harvest loss percentage entered by the user.
Can I use either acres or hectares?
Yes. Select the area basis for cost, other income and yield, and keep those entered rates on that same basis.