Corn Cost of Production Projection Tool for 2026 Now Available

By Jon LaPorte

Farm profitability is a bottom-line priority for farmers. It is a challenge in any year, but particularly in times when input costs are on the rise and grain prices are flat or falling. When margins are tight, farmers need to know their cost of production to determine what inputs and practices are profitable and which ones may need to be put on hold. The new Michigan State University Extension 2026 Projected Cost of Production Tool for Corn is intended to serve as a starting point for discussions on both expected income and expenses for individual farms.

There are three versions of the cost of production tool for non-irrigated and irrigated corn acres included in a single downloadable Excel file:

• The Base Projection version provides an estimate for farms seeking to minimize costs without sacrificing yield. The non-irrigated base projection uses a yield goal of 165 bushels per acre, and the irrigated base projection uses 215 bushels per acre. Both base projections have aligning chemical plans and assume fertility plans based on rate of nutrient removal from the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations bulletin.
• The Build-Up versions for non-irrigated and irrigated corn start out using the same information as the base projections. The fertility plans are updated to include recommended additional fertilizer inputs to build up soil nutrient levels based on sample soil test results.
• The Push Production versions provide an estimate for farms seeking to push maximum yield output. The non-irrigated push production uses a yield goal of 195 bushels per acre, and the irrigated push production uses 240 bushels per acre. Both projections have aligning chemical plans and assume fertility plans based on rate of nutrient removal from the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations bulletin.