Crop Comparison & Which Crop Pays More?
Compares net margin
Enter the yield, price and cost of two crops to see each one's net margin per acre, the benefit-cost ratio, and which crop pays more — and by how much.
Compare two crops
Next: grow the higher-margin crop where agronomy allows, but weigh rotation, risk, water and market demand — don't chase one crop every season.
Use realistic local yields, prices and full costs; a higher B:C ratio can beat a higher absolute margin when capital is limited.
Crop comparison — key facts
- Revenue
- yield × price
- Net margin
- revenue − cost
- Compare on
- net margin per acre
- B:C ratio
- revenue ÷ cost
- Margin %
- net margin ÷ revenue
- When capital is tight
- higher B:C can win
- Also weigh
- rotation, water, risk, demand
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
Choose the crop that actually pays
Picking what to plant on a given field is one of the highest-stakes decisions a farmer makes, and it's too often made on a single number — the crop with the famous price, or the one that yields the most. But yield and price each tell only half the story. What lands in your pocket is the net margin per acre: revenue, which is yield times price, minus the cost of cultivation. A crop that yields heavily but costs more to grow can quietly earn less than a humbler one, and only the margin reveals it.
This tool compares two crops on net margin per acre, margin %, and the benefit-cost ratio, then names the better crop and the difference, in 8 currencies. Grow the higher-margin crop where your agronomy allows — but when capital is limited, a higher B:C ratio can beat a higher absolute margin, and you should still weigh rotation, risk, water and market demand. Pair it with the Crop Profit, Gross Margin and Cost of Cultivation calculators to build a confident cropping plan.
Compare on margin
What you actually keep, not just yield or price.
See capital efficiency
The B:C ratio shows return on every unit spent.
Name the winner
The better crop and the difference, instantly.
Plan with confidence
Decide the field before you buy a single bag of seed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the crop comparison calculator work?+
For each crop it computes revenue as yield × price, subtracts the cost of cultivation to get the net margin per acre, then compares the two. It also reports each crop's margin % and benefit-cost ratio, and tells you which crop pays more and by how much. Enter both crops and read the verdict instantly.
Why compare on net margin rather than yield or price?+
Yield and price each tell only part of the story. A high-yielding crop can still lose money if it costs more to grow, and a high-priced crop can disappoint on a thin yield. Net margin per acre — revenue minus cost — is what actually lands in your pocket, so it's the fair basis for comparing crops.
What is the benefit-cost (B:C) ratio?+
The B:C ratio is revenue ÷ cost. It shows how efficiently each rupee or dollar of spend turns into income. A B:C of 1.8 means you earn 1.8 for every 1 spent. It's a useful complement to the absolute margin because it reveals the return on your working capital, not just the total profit.
Can a crop with a lower margin still be the better choice?+
Yes. When capital is limited, a crop with a higher B:C ratio can beat one with a higher absolute margin, because it earns more per unit of money tied up. If you can only fund a fixed budget, the more capital-efficient crop may let you plant more area or carry less risk for the same outlay.
Should I always grow the higher-margin crop?+
Grow the higher-margin crop where your agronomy allows it — but weigh rotation, soil health, water availability, labour, market demand and price risk. A crop that breaks rotation, drains water you don't have, or floods a thin local market can erode the margin the calculator shows. Use the number as a guide, not a command.
What costs should I include?+
Include the full cost of cultivation for each crop: seed, fertiliser and manure, pesticides, irrigation, labour, machinery and fuel, and any rent or interest you want to count. Compare on the same basis for both crops — for example both as variable cost only, or both as total cost — so the comparison is fair.
What is margin %?+
Margin % is net margin ÷ revenue, shown as a percentage. It tells you what share of each sale is profit. A crop can have a strong absolute margin but a slim margin % if its revenue is large, which signals less cushion if prices fall. Reading margin % alongside the B:C ratio gives a rounded picture of resilience.
Does this work for any currency?+
Yes. Pick from 8 currencies and enter your local prices and costs. The maths — revenue, margin, margin % and B:C ratio — is currency-neutral, so the comparison and verdict hold whatever currency you choose. Just keep both crops in the same currency for a like-for-like result.
How accurate is the comparison?+
It's exactly as accurate as your inputs. Use realistic, recent figures for yield, price and cost — ideally your own records or local averages — and the comparison will reflect your situation. Run a couple of scenarios with optimistic and conservative prices to see how robust the winning crop is to market swings.
Can I compare more than two crops?+
This tool compares two at a time, which is the most common real decision — this crop or that one for a given field. To rank a longer list, compare them in pairs against your strongest candidate, or pair this with the Crop Profit and Gross Margin calculators to build a per-crop margin for each before lining them up.