Fertiliser Costs and Grain Prices Shape Crop Profitability for 2027

Teagasc has released crop costs and returns data for 2027, which includes estimates of variable costs and breakeven yields. Farmers should be aware that fertiliser costs have been rising lately, making up a substantial amount of input costs. The current grain prices are €220/t for feed wheat, €210/t for feed barley, €200 for feed oats, and €240/t for malting barley.

Winter wheat is the most expensive cereal crop to grow, with total variable costs of €772/ac. Winter barley was the second most expensive crop to grow at €726/ac. Spring barley, oats, and malting barley have similar costs to each other, ranging from €569-579/ac, while spring wheat comes in at €623/ac.

Teagasc recommends looking at breakeven yields for all crops and asking if those yields are achievable. Winter wheat has a breakeven yield of 3.5t/ac, but the target yield is 4.4t/ac, which would return a gross margin of €297/t based on Teagasc costs and returns.

Winter feed barley's total variable costs come to €726/ac, with a breakeven yield at €210/t being 3.5t/ac and the target yield is 4t/ac, delivering a gross margin of €235/t.