Urbana, Illinois
April 6, 2004
Planter size has a significant
impact on per acre costs, according to a
University of Illinois
Extension study examining planter costs with different farm
sizes.
"Planting more hours per day could result in a smaller planter
size having lower costs," added Gary Schnitkey, U of I Extension
farm management specialist who conducted the study.
The study's objective was to determine the planter size that had
the lowest cost for a given farm size. Farm sizes from 400 to
4,000 acres in 400-acre increments were evaluated. Planter sizes
range from six rows up to 36 rows. Planters were assumed to
plant all acres with all acres evenly split between corn and
soybeans.
"Two categories of costs were included in the analysis,"
Schnitkey explained. "These were timeliness and power costs.
Timeliness costs account for yield losses from not planting near
optimal times. Power costs include depreciation, interest,
repairs, housing, insurance, fuel and lubrication, and labor.
Power costs were calculated for the planter and the tractor to
pull the planter."
According to the study, on the basis of power costs alone, the
eight-row planter has the lowest costs for a 400-acre farm. The
12-row planter has the lowest costs for 1,200 and 2,800 acres;
and the 16-row has the lowest cost for farm sizes between 3,200
and 4,000 acres.
"However, when timeliness is factored in, costs change," said
Schnitkey. "For example, a 36-row planter has the lowest cost
for the 3,200 acres and above sizes when timeliness costs are
included. When only power costs are included, a 16-row planter
has lower costs for 3,200 acres and above farm sizes.
"Timeliness costs are important because least-cost planters
differ when timeliness costs are included."
The full report, part of the Farm Economics: Facts and Opinion
series, is available on the farmdoc website at:
http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/newsletters/fefo04_05/fefo04_05.html. |