NDSU crop budget projections show minimal returns for 2025

Farmers in North Dakota face challenging projections for 2025, as NDSU Extension’s recent budget estimates show minimal or negative returns for most crops. Ron Haugen, a farm management specialist at NDSU, emphasizes that these budgets serve as regional guides, highlighting variability in returns based on individual circumstances. With lower soil fertility and rising fertilizer costs, many producers may find profitability limited this season.

The full news release from NDSU Extension Service is below.

— Official News Release, NDSU Extension Service —

The North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension projected crop budgets for 2025 are available for the state’s farmers, says Ron Haugen, NDSU Extension farm management specialist.

The projected profits vary by region and crop.

“In general terms, these budgets are guides for large multicounty regions,” says Haugen. “Returns and costs can vary considerably between producers within a region. Also, the budgets estimate returns to labor and management with no consideration of price and yield variability or risk. A perfect comparison of crops is not achieved because different levels of labor, management and risk exist.”

“Regarding the 2025 budgets, soil fertility levels for the state are lower than average,” says Haugen. “The heavy rains and good crop yield last year contributed to this. The fertilizer prices are flat to down slightly, but the application rate will be higher because of the lower fertility.  Thus, the overall fertilizer cost will be somewhat higher than 2024.”

“This year in most regions and for most crops the projected profitability is low or negative,” Haugen shares. “Costs, as a total, are somewhat higher, but lower commodity prices are the main contributor to the lower profitability.”

“Chemical expenses are generally flat. Fuel costs, interest costs and crop insurance premiums are down. Ownership costs and repairs are up. Some specialty crops may show a positive return, but usually have limited contracts and acreages, and also may have higher risk.”

These budgets are intended to be used as a guide. Each individual is encouraged to develop their own budgets with their specific estimates.

The NDSU Extension budgets are available online at [ndsu.ag/cropbudgets](http://ndsu.ag/cropbudgets), or by searching online for NDSU Crop Budgets. Online, a PDF version is available as well as Excel spreadsheets for producers to fill in their own estimates.