If you’re thinking about planting alfalfa, chopping corn silage or getting started with native warm-season grasses, the newly updated 2026 forage budgets from University of Missouri Extension can provide valuable guidance, says MU Extension agricultural business and policy field specialist Katie Neuner.
MU Extension offers budgets for a wide range of forages from alfalfa to fescue seed and corn silage, Neuner said. Traditional cool-season grass budgets (establishment, hay) remain among the most widely used tools across Missouri. Updated seed, fertilizer and herbicide prices, along with realistic yield, custom hire rates, and machinery cost estimates, make these projections more practical than ever, she said.
“The budgets can help you make real decisions, whether that’s figuring your break-even selling price or comparing the cost of production for different forage systems,” she said. “Use MU budgets as a starting point and customize them for your situation.”
Source : missouri.edu