Saving Seed

As the Roundup Ready® soybean trait expires, many growers are exploring the potential economic value of planting approved saved seed varieties versus planting new Roundup Ready 2 Yield® seed. In many cases, planting saved seed may not be the most profitable option. We’ve created a calculator to help you make the best decision for your operation.

Your local market and growing conditions

Enter your information in the form below.

Find CME Soybean Futures Quotes Insert the National Average Insert the National Average
Cost of saving seed

Income lost by not selling harvested grain, in dollars per acre*

 

Assumes 50 lb. bag planted per acre valued at (50/60)* New Crop Futures

Cost of seed conditioning and treating per acre

 

Bagging & tagging costs per acre

 

Storage & interest cost per acre

 

Storage and interest estimate is based on an estimate of $0.27 from OHIGRO in Waldo Ohio in May, 2002 and has been adjusted by the Prices Paid by Farmers in 2002 index into a price for 2010 [PPF-2010 = 124; PPF-2010 = 183 so 183-124 = 59 thus (I + .59)*$0.27 = $0.43

Total cost of saved seed per acre

 
Calculate Potential Additional Revenue>

Potential Additional Revenue

Includes the additional revenue that was not lost by saving seed, the production costs not incurred by planting new seed, and the additional yield advantage from planting new Roundup Ready 2 Yield.

Recalculate

Potential advantage of planting new seed,
per acre:

$1,000,000

Potential advantage of planting new seed,
per entire operation:

$1,000,000

This calculates the estimated yield gain between new Roundup Ready soybeans and new Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans. This also includes the estimated yield gain of 1.9 Bu/A average advantage of newly purchased soybean seed vs. saved soybean seed of the same variety, as shown in past studies.

This calculator determines the advantage of planting Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans vs. saved seed only on year one. Repeatedly saving seeds year after year will likely result in much larger yield losses each year.

^ Seed Prices vary. Consult with your dealer for the price of seed in your area.

** Yield gains vary.