The 2026 Nebraska Crop Budget projections were developed using common production practices across the state. Because every operation is different, these budgets should be used only as a guide as producers evaluate their own cost of production.
The 2026 budgets are available through the Center for Agricultural Profitability in the Agricultural Budget Calculator (ABC) program at https://agbudget.unl.edu/. Users can download Nebraska budgets into their ABC accounts and adjust them to reflect individual practices, input prices, machinery, equipment, land costs, and other factors. Within the ABC program, users can create, save, and print customized enterprise budgets. Printable PDF reports for each 2026 crop budget are also available at cap.unl.edu/cropbudgets and are included in this report.
For more information, contact Glennis McClure at 402-472-0661 or gmcclure3@unl.edu.
For help using the ABC program, visit cap.unl.edu/abc or contact Glennis McClure.
Crop Budgeting Procedures
Check back soon for a complete publication with crop budgets, data, and informtion on development.
This publication contains 84 crop production budgets for 15 crops, as well as tables for power, machinery, irrigation equipment and input costs used to develop these budgets. Each budget report consists of three parts, including:
- Cost of production report with an economic (total) cost of production per unit, per acre, and total.
- Field operation costs per acre.
- Purchased materials, inputs, and services per acre, including the percentage of acres applied, quantity of product applied per acre, and the cost per unit of the input.
The 2026 Nebraska crop budgets were developed using the Ag Budget Calculator (ABC) program. agbudget.unl.edu. After creating a free account in ABC, individual enterprise budgets can be downloaded and edited or customized within the program by account holders. The program website cap.unl.edu/abc provides information on how to utilize the ABC budgeting program.
The heading for each budget report consists of the crop name, system description, and method of water application (dryland or irrigated).
The field operations’ page is organized in a table with columns for the operation name, power unit and implement utilized in the operation in the first column. Per acre labor, fuel (including lube costs), repairs, depreciation, and opportunity costs are noted on each row alongside the power unit, with repairs, depreciation and opportunity cost for the implement utilized in the operation. For operations done multiple times, the number of times is not listed on this report unless individually entered. The program allows for covering the field multiple times by increasing the percentage of acres applied within the program entries. Swathing multiple cuttings of hay is an example. If swathing is done three times during the budget year, a 300% entry can be made in the field operation entry. Labor costs for each operation were calculated from machinery accomplishment rates and can be adjusted for additional time required for getting machinery ready, adjusting machinery, and handling fertilizer and other supplies.
Fuel costs also use machinery accomplishment rates as well as estimated fuel consumption rates to determine fuel use. The fuel cost is multiplied by a lube factor of 1.15. The price of energy is estimated based on current information. Diesel for 2026 was figured at $2.70 per gallon for diesel, while $0.12 per kWh was entered when an operation was powered by electricity. Repairs and depreciation costs are estimated using functions and factors from the Agricultural Engineer’s Yearbook, which is published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. It requires making assumptions about the size and age of the equipment. Irrigation costs generated in the individual budgets were calculated using engineering performance standards and typical water application rates, which will depend on the rainfall area.
The last page of each enterprise budget report is a list of materials and service prices utilized to calculate estimated cost of production. The cost per acre for each material or service is calculated by multiplying the quantity applied per acre by the cost per unit and then by the percentage of acres applied. A value less than 100 percent is used when a material or service is applied to only part of the acres or part of the time. An example is when a practice is not always used. If an insecticide is used one year out of four, a “25 percent” would be entered in the program and is noted in the “Percent of Acres Applied column.
2026 Crop Budget Data
Table 1: Power unit cost data. Includes current list price estimates for a similar power unit and a purchase price estimate after approximately five years of age and use. Salvage value, repair cost estimates, and fuel consumption estimates are generated using formulas from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2011 publication. Opportunity cost is calculated using an average investment value for the power unit times an annual investment rate of 3% for 2026.
Table 2: Irrigation system cost data. Includes current price estimates for center pivots and components.
Table 3: Machinery /implement cost data. Includes current list price estimates for a similar implement and a purchase price estimate after approximately five years of age and use. Salvage value and repair cost estimates are generated using formulas from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2011 publication. Field operation labor is based on the coverage rate and a labor factor for operating efficiencies. Opportunity cost is calculated using an average investment value for the power unit times an annual investment rate of 3% for 2026.
Table 4: Material and service input price data. Includes prices for materials and services in the crop budgets obtained in October 2025. Price changes will occur from this timeframe and should be considered by individual operators. The price list used for materials in the individual budgets may not reflect incentives and discounts available to producers.
Fertilizer types and rates noted in the budgets are estimated based on expected crop yields. Producers should apply fertilizer based on soil and water tests, and their expected crop yields.
Table 5: Federal crop insurance premium estimates. Multiple Peril Crop insurance premium estimates per acre for the crop budgets are at 70% for irrigated crops and 75% for dryland RP (Revenue Protection) enterprise units. The actual federal crop insurance premiums for 2026 will be available for producers in the spring of 2026. Additional hail and wind or other insurance coverages per crop were not included in the budgets.
For 2026, an 8% interest rate for six months was used in the calculation of interest on operating capital and is based on the total of field operation labor, fuel, and repairs, plus cash material and service costs included for the enterprise.
Overhead costs are entered as $36 per acre for irrigated crop ground, $28 for dryland crops. Overhead expenses can vary widely from operation to operation and generally include accounting, liability insurance, vehicle costs, and office expenses. Real estate cost is calculated using values from the UNL publication Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Developments, published in June 2025, times an investment rate of 3 percent. For 2026 budgets, 1.40% of real estate value was used to figure real estate taxes. Taxes on real estate are not included in interest calculations because in Nebraska, they are due at the end of the year in which they accrue and are not delinquent until May and September of the following year. The same 3% investment rate is utilized to calculate opportunity cost for machinery and equipment.
Economic and Cash Cost of Production
Economic cost (the total of cash and non-cash expenses) and cash cost per unit of production are calculated for each crop budget. The cash cost figure does not include the ownership cost of machinery and equipment used in field operations or a real estate opportunity cost, while the total cost figure in the budget report is an economic total cost that includes depreciation and opportunity costs of ownership using the assumption that the operator is a landowner. The crop budgets assume that the operator is the landowner by showing an opportunity cost of ownership. Producers that lease ground should adjust the land cost by noting a rental rate or share lease percentage.
A summary of cash cost per unit of production and economic cost per unit of production for each of the 84 budget reports is summarized in Table 6. The enterprise budget reports included in this publication are the economic enterprise cost reports. Within the ABC budget calculator program users can view an economic cost report (default) or toggle to see the cash cost report for each crop enterprise.
The Nebraska budgets provide cost estimates only. Revenue projections and profitability estimates are not included. In the UNL Ag Budget Calculator (ABC) program, a revenue section and additional features for customizing enterprise budgets are included, especially relating to machinery and equipment costs per farm or ranch operation.
Table 1. Power Unit Cost Data
Name | List Price | *Purchase Price | **Salvage Value | **Depreciation | Opportunity Cost |
| UNL Medium Tractor >80 hp | $140,000.00 | $99,000.00 | $91,000.00 | $8,000.00 | $2,850.00 |
| UNL Large Tractor >150 hp 2 | $563,314.00 | $452,000.00 | $420,000.00 | $32,000.00 | $13,080.00 |
| UNL Large Tractor >150 hp | $495,000.00 | $415,000.00 | $397,000.00 | $18,000.00 | $12,180.00 |
| UNL Windrower | $200,000.00 | $140,000.00 | $125,000.00 | $15,000.00 | $3,980.00 |
| UNL Combine 3 | $575,000.00 | $284,000.00 | $260,000.00 | $24,000.00 | $8,160.00 |
| UNL Combine 1 | $676,732.00 | $460,000.00 | $430,000.00 | $30,000.00 | $13,350.00 |
| UNL Combine 2 | $600,000.00 | $300,000.00 | $195,000.00 | $21,000.00 | $7,425.00 |
| UNL Combine 5 | $520,000.00 | $200,000.00 | $185,000.00 | $15,000.00 | $5,775.00 |
| *Purchase price is estimated used price at 5 years of age. | |||||
| **Salvage value and depreciation after 1 year of ownership for most power units listed. | |||||
Table 2. Irrigation Cost Data
Irrigation System Cost | 2026 Budget Estimates |
| Pivot - Diesel | Purchase Price |
| Well | $30,000 |
| Pivot | $95,000 |
| Pump & gear head | $30,000 |
| Power Unit | $34,000 |
| Pivot – Electric | Purchase Price |
| Well | $30,000 |
| Pivot | $95,000 |
| Pump & gear head | $30,000 |
| Power Unit | $28,000 |
Table 3. Machinery / Implement Cost Data
Name | List Price | Purchase Price* | Salvage Value** | Depreciation** | Opportunity Cost |
| UNL Fertilizer Spreader | $39,000.00 | $32,000.00 | $28,000.00 | $4,000.00 | $900.00 |
| UNL Disk | $77,301.00 | $54,000.00 | $48,000.00 | $6,000.00 | $1,530.00 |
| UNL Harrow - spring tooth | $92,629.00 | $60,000.00 | $52,500.00 | $7,500.00 | $1,687.50 |
| UNL Drill - Grass | $75,005.00 | $42,000.00 | $32,908.50 | $9,091.50 | $1,123.63 |
| UNL Roller Packer | $33,000.00 | $23,000.00 | $21,000.00 | $2,000.00 | $660.00 |
| UNL Boom Sprayer | $89,220.00 | $55,000.00 | $50,000.00 | $4,995.00 | $1,575.00 |
| UNL Field Cultivator | $99,765.00 | $74,000.00 | $68,000.00 | $6,000.00 | $2,130.00 |
| UNL Mower - conditioner | $68,616.00 | $56,000.00 | $48,000.00 | $8,000.00 | $1,560.00 |
| UNL Baler - Small Square | $48,581.00 | $32,000.00 | $22,000.00 | $10,000.00 | $810.00 |
| UNL Wagon | $18,000.00 | $12,000.00 | $8,106.91 | $3,893.09 | $301.60 |
| UNL Rake | $19,000.00 | $14,000.00 | $10,000.00 | $4,000.00 | $360.00 |
| UNL Baler - Large Square | $190,000.00 | $120,000.00 | $105,000.00 | $15,000.00 | $3,375.00 |
| UNL Baler - Large Round | $53,004.00 | $42,000.00 | $38,000.00 | $4,000.00 | $1,200.00 |
| UNL Bale Mover | $11,937.00 | $7,500.00 | $5,376.24 | $2,123.76 | $193.14 |
| UNL Corrugator | $77,301.00 | $50,000.00 | $45,000.00 | $5,000.00 | $1,425.00 |
| UNL Anhydrous Applicator (toolbar) | $81,719.00 | $45,000.00 | $35,000.00 | $10,000.00 | $1,200.00 |
| UNL Planter | $175,000.00 | $135,000.00 | $127,000.00 | $8,000.00 | $3,930.00 |
| UNL Corn Head | $80,061.00 | $53,000.00 | $44,000.00 | $9,000.00 | $1,455.00 |
| UNL Grain Cart | $110,000.00 | $75,000.00 | $64,000.00 | $11,000.00 | $2,085.00 |
| UNL Row Crop Cultivator | $78,500.00 | $61,000.00 | $52,000.00 | $9,000.00 | $1,695.00 |
| UNL Corn Head 2 | $77,061.00 | $54,000.00 | $40,822.50 | $13,177.50 | $1,422.34 |
| UNL Corn Head 4 | $100,000.00 | $82,000.00 | $66,000.00 | $16,000.00 | $2,220.00 |
| UNL Cultivator - Ridge/Ditch | $136,369.00 | $95,000.00 | $77,000.00 | $18,000.00 | $2,580.00 |
| UNL Planter - no till | $175,000.00 | $130,000.00 | $123,000.00 | $7,000.00 | $3,795.00 |
| UNL Corn Head 3 | $80,000.00 | $73,000.00 | $42,379.40 | $6,124.12 | $1,730.69 |
| UNL Corn Head 1 | $91,396.00 | $78,000.00 | $62,000.00 | $16,000.00 | $2,100.00 |
| UNL Stalk Chopper | $47,000.00 | $34,000.00 | $28,000.00 | $6,000.00 | $930.00 |
| UNL Subsoil/One-pass Tillage | $136,369.00 | $110,000.00 | $92,000.00 | $18,000.00 | $3,030.00 |
| UNL Dry Bean Puller | $56,000.00 | $42,000.00 | $32,000.00 | $10,000.00 | $1,110.00 |
| UNL Draper Flex Platform | $137,452.00 | $83,000.00 | $75,000.00 | $8,000.00 | $2,370.00 |
| UNL Drill - Grain | $110,278.00 | $80,000.00 | $73,000.00 | $7,000.00 | $2,295.00 |
| UNL Plow | $34,002.00 | $25,000.00 | $22,000.00 | $3,000.00 | $705.00 |
| UNL Roller Harrow | $66,530.00 | $42,000.00 | $37,000.00 | $5,000.00 | $1,185.00 |
| UNL Combine Header - Flex | $79,373.00 | $72,000.00 | $67,000.00 | $5,000.00 | $2,085.00 |
| UNL Chisel Plow | $79,963.00 | $55,000.00 | $50,000.00 | $5,000.00 | $1,575.00 |
| UNL Combine Header - grain head | $70,200.00 | $50,000.00 | $37,187.90 | $12,812.10 | $1,307.82 |
| UNL Drill w/fertilizer attachment | $145,000.00 | $95,000.00 | $85,000.00 | $10,000.00 | $2,700.00 |
| UNL Sweep Plow | $57,500.00 | $40,000.00 | $36,000.00 | $4,000.00 | $1,140.00 |
| UNL Rod Weeder | $72,916.00 | $60,000.00 | $48,000.00 | $12,000.00 | $1,620.00 |
| UNL Combine Header - sunflower | $79,373.00 | $70,000.00 | $50,000.00 | $4,000.00 | $1,800.00 |
| UNL Ridge Cultivator | $102,441.00 | $85,000.00 | $77,000.00 | $18,000.00 | $2,580.00 |
| UNL Beet Topper | $144,399.00 | $115,000.00 | $97,000.00 | $18,000.00 | $3,180.00 |
| UNL Lift Beets | $293,727.00 | $225,000.00 | $205,000.00 | $20,000.00 | $6,450.00 |
| UNL Rotary Hoe | $28,500.00 | $18,000.00 | $13,000.00 | $5,000.00 | $465.00 |
| *Purchase price is estimated used price at 5 years of age. | ` | ||||
| **Salvage value and depreciation after 1 year of ownership for most equipment listed. | |||||
Table 4. Material & Service Input Prices (prices as of October 2025)
| Item | Price per Unit |
| Additives | |
| 21-0-0-24S | $0.45 / pound |
| AMS | $0.50 / pound |
| Approved adjuvant | $2.25 / acre |
| Crop Oil Concentrate | $16.00 / gallon |
| MSO | $30.00 / gallon |
| NIS | $28.00 / gallon |
| UAN | $3.70 / gallon |
| Custom | |
| Aerial Spray | $11.00 / acre |
| Bale Lg Sq 1360 lb | $19.00 / bale |
| Broadcast Seed | $15.00 / acre |
| Chop, Haul, Pack | $20.00 / ton |
| Dry 2 Points Removed | $0.10 / bushel |
| Haul & Apply Manure | $ 8.00 / ton |
| Haul Beets | $ 6.00 / ton |
| Haul Grain (Dry Beans) | $0.32 / cwt |
| Haul Grain (Millet) | $0.28 / cwt |
| Haul Grain (Sunflower) | $0.30 / cwt |
| Haul Grain Bushels | $0.15 / bushel |
| Load Large Square Bales | $2.50 / bale |
| Spray | $9.00 / acre |
| Fertilizer | |
| 10-34-0 | $4.00 / gallon |
| 10-34-0-1Zn | $4.15 / gallon |
| 11-52-0 | $0.46 / pound |
| 28-0-0 | $2.34/ gallon |
| 32-0-0 | $0.74 / lbs N |
| 32-0-0 (Applied by Pivot) | $0.74 / lbs N |
| 32-0-0 (Applied by R2) | $0.74/ lbs N |
| 46-0-0 | $0.70 / lbs N |
| 82-0-0 | $0.50 / lbs N |
| ATS 12-0-0-26S | $2.55 / gallon |
| Composted manure | $21.00/ton |
| Uncomposted manure | $8.00/ton |
| Fungicide and Seed Treatment | |
| Aproach Prima | $320.00 / gallon |
| Copper | $15.00 / pint |
| Delaro Complete | $509.00 / gallon |
| Headline AMP | $230.00 / gallon |
| Lucento | $622.00 / gallon |
| Miravis Neo | $257.00 / gallon |
| Priaxor | $634.00 / gallon |
| Proline 480 SC | $743.00 / gallon |
| Prosaro 4.21SC | $580.00 / gallon |
| Quadris | $248.00 / gallon |
| Quilt Xcel | $237.00 / gallon |
| Revytek | $489.00 / gallon |
| Soybean Seed Inoculant | $2.50 / acre |
| Stratego YLD | $679.00 / gallon |
| Tilt | $107.00 / gallon |
| Trivapro | $240.00 / gallon |
| Veltyma | $500.00 / gallon |
| Herbicide | |
| 2,4-D Amine | $25.00 / gallon |
| 2,4-D Ester 4# | $28.00 / gallon |
| AAtrex 4L | $20.00 / gallon |
| Acuron | $85.00 / gallon |
| Aim EC | $240.00 / quart |
| Ally Extra SGW/TOTSOL | $11.00 / ounce |
| Armezon | $24.00 / ounce |
| Armezon Pro | $210.00 / gallon |
| Atrazine 4L | $22.00 / gallon |
| Atrazine 90 DF | $4.30 / pound |
| Authority First DF | $92.00 / pound |
| Authority XL | $40.00 / pound |
| Authority Supreme | $440.00 / gallon |
| Balance Flexx | $6.35 / ounce |
| Basagran 5L | $98.00 / gallon |
| Beyond | $435.00 / gallon |
| Bicep II Magnum | $45.00 / gallon |
| Brox 2EC | $59.00 / gallon |
| Callisto 4SC | $340.00 / gallon |
| Chateau EZ | $372.00 / gallon |
| Dicamba | $40.00 / gallon |
| DiFlexx | $290.00 / gallon |
| DiFlexx DUO | $120.00 / gallon |
| Distinct | $51.00 / pound |
| Dual Magnum | $80.00 / gallon |
| Enlist DUO | $48.00 / gallon |
| Enlist One | $70.00 / gallon |
| Eptam 7E | $70.00 / gallon |
| Fierce | $80.00 / pound |
| Fierce MTZ | $260.00 / gallon |
| FlexStar GT | $55.00 / gallon |
| Glyphosate 5# w/Surfactant | $20.00 / gallon |
| Goltix 700 SC | $110.00/gallon |
| Gramoxone SL 3.0 | $43.00 / gallon |
| Huskie | $135.00 / gallon |
| Landmaster BW | $25.00 / gallon |
| Laudis | $700.00 / gallon |
| Liberty 280 | $50.00 / gallon |
| Lumax EZ | $75.00 / gallon |
| Norton SC | $130.00 / gallon |
| Outlook | $195.00 / gallon |
| Peak | $21.00 / ounce |
| Prowl H2O | $60.00 / gallon |
| Pursuit | $510.00 / gallon |
| Raptor | $450.00 / gallon |
| Roundup PowerMax 3 | $27.00 / gallon |
| Rugged | $50.00 / gallon |
| Scorch | $80.00 / gallon |
| Select Max | $95.00 / gallon |
| Sharpen | $950.00 / gallon |
| Sonalan HFP | $60.00 / gallon |
| Spartan 4F | $137.00 / gallon |
| Status | $5.50 / ounce |
| Ultra Blazer | $55.00 / gallon |
| Valor XLT | $40.00 / pound |
| Velpar L | $125.00 / gallon |
| Vida | $563.00 / gallon |
| Warrant | $80.00 / gallon |
| Warrant Ultra | $70.00 / gallon |
| Zidua Pro | $607.00 / gallon |
| Zidua SC | $715.00 / gallon |
| Insecticide | |
| Asana XL | $82.00 / gallon |
| Brigade 2EC | $78.00 / gallon |
| Capture LFR | $197.00 / gallon |
| Mustang Maxx | $180.00 / gallon |
| Regent 4 SC | $13.6 / ounce |
| Vantacor /Coregan Evo | $2,420.00/gallon |
| Warrior II/Zeon | $402.00/gallon |
| Other | |
| Electricity Fixed | $52.00 / acre |
| Electricity Usage | $0.12 / kw |
| Fence/Water Repairs | $300.00 / circle |
| Irrigation District O&M Charge | $41.00 / acre |
| Move Cattle | $45.00 / hour |
| Net Wrap - Large Round | $3.00 /ton |
| Twine Large Square | $2.50 / ton |
| Twine Small Square | $15.00 / ton |
| Rental | |
| Grass Drill | $28.00 / acre |
| Seeder/Packer | $22.00 / acre |
| Scouting | |
| Scouting Dry Beans | $13.00 / acre |
| Scouting Dryland Corn | $10.00 / acre |
| Scouting Dryland Soybeans | $10.00 / acre |
| Scouting Dryland Wheat | $10.00 / acre |
| Scouting Grain Sorghum | $10.00 / acre |
| Scouting Irrigated Corn | $13.00 / acre |
| Scouting Irrigated Soybeans | $13.00 / acre |
| Scouting Irrigated Wheat | $10.00 / acre |
| Scouting Sugar Beets | $19.00 / acre |
| Seed | |
| Alfalfa RR w/Inoculant | $10.50 / pound |
| Alfalfa w/Inoculant | $6.25 / pound |
| Corn | $290.00 / unit |
| Corn Bt, ECB, & RIB | $310.00 / unit |
| Corn Bt, ECB, RR2, LL & RIB | $310.00 / unit |
| Corn Bt, ECB, RW, & RIB | $350.00 / unit |
| Corn Bt, ECB, RW, RR2, LL&RIB | $365.00/unit |
| Corn Enlist, Bt, ECB, & RIB | $330.00/ unit |
| Corn RR2, LL | $310.00 / unit |
| Corn SmartStax RIB Complete | $350.00 / unit |
| Cover Crop - Mix | $0.74 / pound |
| Cover Crop Grazing Mix | $33.00 / acre |
| Edible Beans | $115.00 / cwt |
| Grass Seed | $90.00 / acre |
| Millet (Proso) | $0.55 / pound |
| Oats | $12.00 / bushel |
| Peas with inoculant | $28.00 / bag |
| Popcorn Seed | $340 / unit |
| E3 Enlist Soybeans | $82.00 / unit |
| E3 Enlist Soybeans Treated | $102.00 / unit |
| Soybeans XtendFlex | $ 75.00 / unit |
| Soybeans XtendFlex Treated | $ 85.00 / unit |
| Sorghum Safened/Insect | $3.70 / pound |
| Sorghum Sudan | $1.10 / pound |
| Sugar Beets (Cercospora +) | $245.00 / acre |
| Sunflower Clearfield | $420.00 / bag |
| Wheat (Certified Treated) | $0.41 / pound |
| Rye Cover Crop | $0.25 / pound |
| Wheat Cover Crop | $0.33 / pound |
Irrigation Energy Costs and Budget Assumptions
Irrigation energy is a key component of crop production costs. The 2026 Nebraska crop budgets use standard assumptions to estimate diesel and electricity use for center pivot irrigation. Producers can adjust these assumptions in the Agricultural Budget Calculator (ABC) program to reflect their own systems and utility rates.
Center pivot budgets assume:
- Pumping lift: 125 feet
- Pressure: 35 psi
These values are used to estimate hourly diesel and electricity requirements.
2026 energy price estimates:
- Diesel: $2.70 per gallon
- Electricity: $0.12 per kWh
More technical detail is available in Pumping Plant Performance (Martin et al., 2017), linked in the irrigation section of the ABC program.
Irrigation Electricity Costs in Nebraska
Nebraska irrigators purchase power from local public utilities, where most offer a choice of irrigation rate schedules that affect both annual cost and irrigation flexibility.
Rate Schedule Types
- No Load Control: Allows irrigation at any time. These are the most expensive due to potential use during peak demand periods.
- Partial Load Control: Irrigation may be interrupted during peak times on select days.
- Full Load Control (Anytime Control): Irrigation can be shut off during peak times daily. These are typically the least expensive.
- Time of Use (TOU): Irrigation can be run anytime, yet costs are very high during peak hours and very low during off-peak hours.
Common Charges in Irrigation Rate Schedules
- Customer Charge / Base Fee: A fixed monthly or annual fee, regardless of energy use. (For irrigation rate schedules a base fee is commonly replaced by a minimum charge)
- Energy Charges: Cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity used. May be flat or tiered.
- Demand Charges: Based on peak power use, usually charged per kilowatt (kW) or horsepower (HP). These can be based on system nameplate or measured peak usage.
- Power Factor Charges: adjustments for low power factor caused by induction motors. Charges can be a % increase in total bill or increased billing demand. Farmers can usually reduce or eliminate these charges with capacitors (ask your utility, call your electrician).
Estimating Electricity Cost
For the 2026 budgets, cost per kWh was estimated by applying rate schedules to hourly electric load data for an irrigation system, and dividing total cost per year by total kWh used per year. This provided a cost per kWh, which we averaged for each type of rate. The rates yielded a low of 7.3 cents per kWh to a high of 16.13 cents per kWh. Three of seven utilities rates surveyed had a power factor adjustment.
Using hourly load data across multiple utilities, estimated average costs for 2026 were:
- No Load Control: 14.3¢/kWh
- Partial Load Control: 12.0¢/kWh
- Full Load Control: 10.25¢/kWh
Table 5. Federal Crop Insurance Premium Estimates
Budget | Dryland or Irrigated | Area | Yield | Per Acre Premium |
| 1-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | N/A | N/A |
| 2-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | N/A | N/A |
| 3-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | N/A | N/A |
| 4-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | 2.8 ton | N/A |
| 5-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | 2.8 ton | N/A |
| 6-Alfalfa | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 3.8 ton | N/A |
| 7-Alfalfa | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 4 ton | N/A |
| 8-Alfalfa | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | Panhandle | 2.5 ton | N/A |
| 9-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | 4.4 ton | N/A |
| 10-Alfalfa | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 6.7 ton | N/A |
| 11-Alfalfa | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 6.8 ton | N/A |
| 12-Alfalfa | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 6.6 ton | N/A |
| 13-Alfalfa | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | State | 6.6 ton | N/A |
| 14-Alfalfa | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | State | 6.8 ton | N/A |
| 15-Corn | Dryland | State | 100 bushel | $8 |
| 16-Corn | Dryland | State | 110 bushel | $8 |
| 17-Corn | Dryland | Eastern Nebraska | 160 bushel | $5 |
| 18-Corn | Dryland | Eastern Nebraska | 170 bushel | $6 |
| 19-Corn | Dryland | State | 135 bushel | $5 |
| 20-Corn | Dryland | Eastern Nebraska | 180 bushel | $5 |
| 21-Corn | Dryland | State | 140 bushel | $7 |
| 22-Corn | Dryland | Eastern Nebraska | 185 bushel | $5 |
| 23-Corn | Dryland | State | 145 bushel | $5 |
| 24-Corn | Dryland | Eastern Nebraska | 195 bushel | $5 |
| 25-Corn | Dryland | Southwest | 130 bushel | $12 |
| 26-Corn | Gravity Irrigated Diesel, fed by a well | State | 245 bushel | $9 |
| 27-Corn | Gravity Irrigated Diesel, fed by a well | State | 255 bushel | $9 |
| 28-Corn | Gravity Irrigated Diesel, fed by a well | State | 250 bushel | $9 |
| 29-Corn | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | Panhandle | 175 bushel | $16 |
| 30-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 245 bushel | $9 |
| 31-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 250 bushel | $9 |
| 32-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 260 bushel | $10 |
| 33-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 275 bushel | $10 |
| 34-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 275 bushel | $10 |
| 35-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 275 bushel | $10 |
| 36-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 235 bushel | $9 |
| 37-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 245 bushel | $9 |
| 38-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 175 bushel | $16 |
| 39-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 185 bushel | $16 |
| 40-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 240 bushel | $9 |
| 41-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 28 ton | $9 |
| 42-Popcorn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 8000 Lbs. | $31 |
| 43-Dry Beans | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 27 cwt | $29 |
| 44-Dry Beans | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | Panhandle | 27 cwt | $29 |
| 45-Dry Beans | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 27 cwt | $29 |
| 46-Dry Beans | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 27 cwt | $29 |
| 47-Grain Sorghum | Dryland | Southwest | 85 bushel | $12 |
| 48-Grain Sorghum | Dryland | State | 135 bushel | $14 |
| 49-Grain Sorghum | Dryland | Southwest | 120 bushel | $15 |
| 50-Grain Sorghum | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 170 bushel | $15 |
| 51-Grass | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | N/A | N/A |
| 52-Grass Hay | Dryland | State | 3.3 ton | N/A |
| 53-Millet-Proso | Dryland | Panhandle | 22 cwt | $4 |
| 54-Millet-Proso | Dryland | Panhandle | 22 cwt | $4 |
| 55-Oats | Dryland | State | 85 bushel | $9 |
| 56-Pasture | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 11 AUM | N/A |
| 57-Peas | Dryland | Panhandle | 35 bushel | $6 |
| 58-Sorghum-Sudan | Dryland | Panhandle | 5 ton | N/A |
| 59-Soybeans | Dryland | State | 45 bushel | $7 |
| 60-Soybeans | Dryland | State | 50 bushel | $7 |
| 61-Soybeans | Dryland | State | 45 bushel | $7 |
| 62-Soybeans | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 67 bushel | $7 |
| 63-Soybeans | Gravity Irrigated Diesel, fed by a well | State | 70 bushel | $7 |
| 64-Soybeans | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 64 bushel | $7 |
| 65-Soybeans | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 78 bushel | $7 |
| 66-Soybeans | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 78 bushel | $7 |
| 67-Sugarbeet | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | Panhandle | 30 ton | $41 |
| 68-Sugarbeet | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | Panhandle | 30 ton | $41 |
| 69-Sugarbeet | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | Panhandle | 30 ton | $41 |
| 70-Sugarbeet | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | Panhandle | 30 ton | $41 |
| 71-Sunflower | Dryland | Panhandle | 13 cwt | $10 |
| 72-Sunflower | Dryland | Panhandle | 16 cwt | $12 |
| 73-Sunflower | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 30 cwt | $12 |
| 74-Wheat-Spring | Dryland | Southwest | 40 bushel | $8 |
| 75-Wheat-Winter | Dryland | Southwest | 55 bushel | $8 |
| 76-Wheat-Winter | Dryland | Panhandle | 70 bushel | $9 |
| 77-Wheat-Winter | Dryland | Panhandle | 65 bushel | $9 |
| 78-Wheat-Winter | Dryland | Panhandle | 60 bushel | $9 |
| 79-Wheat-Winter | Dryland | Southwest | 80 bushel | $8 |
| 80-Wheat-Winter | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | Panhandle | 105 bushel | $22 |
| 81-Wheat-Winter | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 90 bushel | $19 |
| 82-Cover Crop | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | N/A | N/A |
| 83-Cover Crop - Grazing | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | N/A | N/A |
| 84-Cover Crop Mix | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | N/A | N/A |
Table 6. Summary of Per Unit Cost - 2026 Nebraska Crop Budgets
| Budget | Dryland or Irrigated | Area | Yield / Unit of Production | Cash Cost Per Unit | Economic Cost Per Unit |
| 1-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | Est. Costs /Acre | $192.90 | $279.96 |
| 2-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | Est. Costs /Acre | $223.02 | $252.52 |
| 3-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | Est. Costs /Acre | $233.09 | $308.11 |
| 4-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | 2.8 ton | $155.80 | $248.11 |
| 5-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | 2.8 ton | $154.69 | $249.49 |
| 6-Alfalfa | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 3.8 ton | $121.12 | $244.61 |
| 7-Alfalfa | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 4 ton | $129.87 | $249.91 |
| 8-Alfalfa | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | Panhandle | 2.5 ton | $169.79 | $268.80 |
| 9-Alfalfa | Dryland | State | 4.4 ton | $56.42 | $116.05 |
| 10-Alfalfa | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 6.7 ton | $81.91 | $155.79 |
| 11-Alfalfa | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 6.8 ton | $81.98 | $162.84 |
| 12-Alfalfa | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 6.6 ton | $67.58 | $118.65 |
| 13-Alfalfa | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | State | 6.6 ton | $62.40 | $135.21 |
| 14-Alfalfa | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | State | 6.8 ton | $61.03 | $134.47 |
| 15-Corn | Dryland | State | 100 bushel | $3.64 | $6.12 |
| 16-Corn | Dryland | State | 110 bushel | $3.22 | $5.36 |
| 17-Corn | Dryland | Eastern Neb. | 160 bushel | $3.28 | $5.51 |
| 18-Corn | Dryland | Eastern Neb. | 170 bushel | $2.93 | $5.03 |
| 19-Corn | Dryland | State | 135 bushel | $3.35 | $4.76 |
| 20-Corn | Dryland | Eastern Neb. | 180 bushel | $3.27 | $4.99 |
| 21-Corn | Dryland | State | 140 bushel | $3.42 | $4.81 |
| 22-Corn | Dryland | Eastern Neb. | 185 bushel | $3.21 | $4.87 |
| 23-Corn | Dryland | State | 145 bushel | $3.10 | $4.58 |
| 24-Corn | Dryland | Eastern Neb. | 195 bushel | $2.89 | $4.50 |
| 25-Corn | Dryland | Southwest | 130 bushel | $3.22 | $4.11 |
| 26-Corn | Gravity Irrigated Diesel, fed by a well | State | 245 bushel | $3.05 | $4.63 |
| 27-Corn | Gravity Irrigated Diesel, fed by a well | State | 255 bushel | $2.82 | $4.31 |
| 28-Corn | Gravity Irrigated Diesel, fed by a well | State | 250 bushel | $3.05 | $4.65 |
| 29-Corn | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | Panhandle | 175 bushel | $3.81 | $5.50 |
| 30-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 245 bushel | $3.21 | $4.82 |
| 31-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 250 bushel | $3.16 | $4.74 |
| 32-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 260 bushel | $3.13 | $4.78 |
| 33-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 275 bushel | $2.94 | $4.38 |
| 34-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 275 bushel | $2.92 | $4.39 |
| 35-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 275 bushel | $2.93 | $4.39 |
| 36-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 235 bushel | $3.34 | $5.17 |
| 37-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 245 bushel | $2.99 | $4.75 |
| 38-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 175 bushel | $3.75 | $5.13 |
| 39-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 185 bushel | $3.41 | $4.72 |
| 40-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 240 bushel | $3.36 | $5.16 |
| 41-Corn | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 28 ton | $50.20 | $62.75 |
| 42-Popcorn | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | 8000 Lbs. | $0.09 | $0.14 |
| 43-Dry Beans | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 27 cwt | $22.76 | $31.93 |
| 44-Dry Beans | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | Panhandle | 27 cwt | $22.26 | $32.74 |
| 45-Dry Beans | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 27 cwt | $23.32 | $33.35 |
| 46-Dry Beans | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 27 cwt | $24.04 | $32.87 |
| 47-Grain Sorghum | Dryland | Southwest | 85 bushel | $3.46 | $5.47 |
| 48-Grain Sorghum | Dryland | State | 135 bushel | $2.83 | $4.27 |
| 49-Grain Sorghum | Dryland | Southwest | 120 bushel | $2.93 | $3.95 |
| 50-Grain Sorghum | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 170 bushel | $2.80 | $4.45 |
| 51-Grass | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | Per acre | $226.60 | $297.06 |
| 52-Grass Hay | Dryland | State | 3.3 ton | $55.99 | $107.84 |
| 53-Millet-Proso | Dryland | Panhandle | 22 cwt | $7.40 | $12.25 |
| 54-Millet-Proso | Dryland | Panhandle | 22 cwt | $7.12 | $10.76 |
| 55-Oats | Dryland | State | 85 bushel | $3.21 | $5.21 |
| 56-Pasture* | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 11 AUM* | $44.67 | $67.98 |
| 57-Peas | Dryland | Panhandle | 35 bushel | $5.12 | $6.78 |
| 58-Sorghum-Sudan | Dryland | Panhandle | 5 ton | $44.14 | $88.85 |
| 59-Soybeans | Dryland | State | 45 bushel | $6.98 | $11.78 |
| 60-Soybeans | Dryland | State | 50 bushel | $6.01 | $9.85 |
| 61-Soybeans | Dryland | State | 45 bushel | $6.19 | $10.32 |
| 62-Soybeans | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 67 bushel | $7.25 | $13.24 |
| 63-Soybeans | Gravity Irrigated Diesel, fed by a well | State | 70 bushel | $6.87 | $12.05 |
| 64-Soybeans | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 64 bushel | $7.35 | $13.26 |
| 65-Soybeans | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 78 bushel | $7.12 | $12.04 |
| 66-Soybeans | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | State | 78 bushel | $6.11 | $11.01 |
| 67-Sugarbeet | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | Panhandle | 30 ton | $38.79 | $49.48 |
| 68-Sugarbeet | Gravity Irrigated, fed by canal | Panhandle | 30 ton | $39.29 | $50.96 |
| 69-Sugarbeet | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | Panhandle | 30 ton | $39.96 | $51.83 |
| 70-Sugarbeet | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | Panhandle | 30 ton | $40.34 | $52.58 |
| 71-Sunflower | Dryland | Panhandle | 13 cwt | $16.57 | $22.27 |
| 72-Sunflower | Dryland | Panhandle | 16 cwt | $15.90 | $20.91 |
| 73-Sunflower | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 30 cwt | $16.01 | $22.02 |
| 74-Wheat-Spring | Dryland | Southwest | 40 bushel | $6.14 | $8.22 |
| 75-Wheat-Winter | Dryland | Southwest | 55 bushel | $4.50 | $6.02 |
| 76-Wheat-Winter | Dryland | Panhandle | 70 bushel | $4.02 | $5.39 |
| 77-Wheat-Winter | Dryland | Panhandle | 65 bushel | $4.00 | $5.93 |
| 78-Wheat-Winter | Dryland | Panhandle | 60 bushel | $4.22 | $6.88 |
| 79-Wheat-Winter | Dryland | Southwest | 80 bushel | $3.99 | $5.53 |
| 80-Wheat-Winter | Pivot Irrigated Diesel | Panhandle | 105 bushel | $3.48 | $5.34 |
| 81-Wheat-Winter | Pivot Irrigated Electric | Panhandle | 90 bushel | $5.58 | $7.59 |
| 82-Cover Crop | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | Per acre | $57.36 | $102.48 |
| 83-Cover Crop - Grazing | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | Per acre | $67.76 | $112.88 |
| 84-Cover Crop Mix | Pivot Irrigated Electric | State | Per acre | $93.14 | $138.25 |