MT: 2010 CROP & ROTATION ECONOMICS COMPARISON TOOL AVAILABLE
News Date March 02, 2010
NASDA, Agriculture, Agriculture Policy, State Agriculture, State Departments of AgricultureTo assist farmers considering planting options for 2010 and future years, the Montana Department of Agriculture developed spreadsheets that allow farmers to compare the relative profitability of different crops and crop rotations.
Spreadsheets were developed for both dryland and irrigated production and are customizable to allow farmers to make estimates that are reasonable for their farms, says Chad Lee, business development officer, who created the guide. A link to the spreadsheets and instructions can be found on the department's website.
The department developed the decision tools to help farmers evaluate opportunities to raise alternative crops and compare the economics of different crop rotations.
A presentation on pulse crop economics also is available through a link on the web page that includes the spreadsheets and instructions: http://agr.mt.gov/business/cropandrotationtools.asp. Lee made the presentation to a standing-room-only audience at the Northern Pulse Growers Association's "Montana Pulse Day" event in Great Falls on February 16, 2010. (Contact: Chad Lee, 406-444-3144)