Projected profits show corn down, soybeans up
BY ALYSSA MEIER
BHG News
Despite prices for soybeans declining, returns are expected to be up in 2019, according to the North Dakota State University Extension.
NDSU Extension farm management specialist Andy Swenson said there was a projected loss of $10 per acre in the northeastern region, but not all areas would take a hit on the crop. 2019 soybean yields were estimated at $33 per acre in the north-central region of North Dakota, which includes McLean County.
“Surprisingly, soybeans project positive returns to labor and management in all but one region, despite lower soybean prices compared to last year’s budgets,” Swenson said.
Corn crops would not be as promising, according to the Extension office, as losses were projected in all regions. Western and southeastern regions forecast a $5 to $10 per acre loss, while all other regions will lose $20 to $40 per acre on the crop.
Hard red spring wheat projected a return between $5 and $10 an acre, with the northwest region at $22 an acre and the northwestern, south-central and southern Red River Valley regions expecting to see a loss.
Though returns for drybeans, malting barley, lentils and chickpeas showed relatively strong returns, low commodity prices will reportedly hinder profits. Drybeans were expected to see returns of $31 per acre in the north-central region and $7 per acre in the south-central and southeastern region.
