Crop Harvest Loss and Revenue Impact Calculator

Table of contents

• How to use
• Common mistakes
• Definitions
• Methodology
• Limitations & assumptions

Bushel per acre (bu/acre): A yield amount spread across one acre.

Expected yield before harvest: The estimated harvestable crop per acre before the modeled harvest loss.

Harvested yield: The crop recovered per acre, often from scale tickets, storage records, or a calibrated yield monitor.

Measured net field loss: Crop left in the field per acre from representative samples, after any preharvest-loss adjustment when needed.

Same basis: Yield entries use matching moisture, grade or marketability, area, and unit bases.

Gross crop value: Lost bushels multiplied by the entered price. It is before costs, deductions, and insurance rules.

Harvest recovery: The estimated share of harvestable yield that was recovered. It is not an official machine-efficiency rating.

Mistake: Comparing Expected yield before harvest (bu/acre) with Harvested yield (bu/acre) from different moisture, grade, area, or unit bases.
Fix: Adjust or replace the records so they share one basis, then choose "Yes, same basis" for Are all yield entries on the same basis?

Mistake: Entering all crop found behind the combine as Measured net field loss (bu/acre) and calling it machine loss.
Fix: Subtract crop that was on the ground before harvest if estimating combine-caused loss, then choose "Combine-caused loss only" under What does the measured loss include?

Mistake: Using the whole farm in Affected field area (acres) when the yield records or samples represent only one field or part of a field.
Fix: Enter only the acres covered by the same yield basis and representative loss estimate.

Mistake: Treating Estimated gross crop value lost as profit lost or an insurance payment.
Fix: Use Crop price ($ per bushel) for gross crop value only; account for costs and insurance rules separately.

Mistake: Entering a harvested yield greater than Expected yield before harvest (bu/acre) in the comparison method.
Fix: Recheck the records and their basis. This calculator blocks that entry because it would create a negative harvest loss.

• The result assumes the entered loss per acre represents every acre in Affected field area (acres). Uneven fields, changing crop conditions, and small samples can make that untrue.
• The comparison method treats the difference between expected and harvested yield as unrecovered crop. Record errors, yield-monitor calibration, handling losses, moisture differences, and grade adjustments can also create a difference.
• The measured method requires a crop-appropriate sampling and conversion method before entering Measured net field loss (bu/acre). This calculator does not convert kernel counts or other field observations into bushels.
• Estimated gross crop value lost uses one entered price for all lost bushels. It does not subtract labor, fuel, drying, hauling, storage, repairs, marketing costs, or fixed farm costs.
• The calculator does not determine crop-insurance coverage, an indemnity, tax treatment, or whether additional recovery effort is practical.
• In measured mode, the loss scope changes the description only. It does not change the physical loss arithmetic.

Calculation steps

With "Compare expected and harvested yield," the calculator finds the per-acre gap between the two comparable yield records.

loss_per_acre = expected_yield - harvested_yield

With "Enter measured field loss," the entered net field loss is the per-acre loss. Harvestable yield is reconstructed from recovered crop plus that loss.

harvestable_yield = harvested_yield + measured_net_loss

For either method, the loss share and recovery share use the active harvestable yield.

loss_percent = loss_per_acre / harvestable_yield * 100

harvest_recovery_percent = harvested_yield / harvestable_yield * 100

The calculator scales the per-acre loss by acreage, then multiplies lost bushels by the entered crop price.

total_crop_lost = loss_per_acre * field_area

gross_value_lost = total_crop_lost * crop_price

Worked example

If expected yield is 200 bu/acre, harvested yield is 190 bu/acre, field area is 100 acres, and crop price is $4.50 per bushel, the loss is 10 bu/acre. Total crop lost is 1,000 bushels, the loss share is 5%, and estimated gross crop value lost is $4,500.

Calculation checks

The calculator stops if yield bases do not match, if a required active value is invalid, if area is zero or less, or if harvested yield exceeds expected yield in the comparison method. Zero crop loss and a zero crop price are allowed when the other entries are valid.