Crop Yield Calculator
Estimate corn or soybean yield before harvest. For corn, count ears in 1/1000 acre of row plus kernel rows and kernels per row (the yield component method); for soybeans, count plants and pods. Get bushels per acre, ears or plants per acre, a yield range, whole-field bushels and gross value.
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Leave blank to use 1/1000 acre of row (17 ft 5 in for 30 in rows).
One ear or several separated by commas; they are averaged.
Count full kernels along one row of each ear.
For 7.5 in drilled beans the 1/1000 acre row is about 69.7 ft.
One average or several plant counts separated by commas.
2,500–3,000 is typical; use 3,000+ for small seed or drought.
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How to use the Crop Yield Calculator
- Choose corn or soybeans and your row spacing.
- Count ears or plants in 1/1000 acre of row (or enter the length you measured).
- For corn, count kernel rows and kernels per row on several ears; for soybeans, count pods per plant.
- Pick the kernel size factor or seeds per pound that fits the season.
- Press Estimate yield and repeat in at least five spots across the field.
Yield estimate formulas
Corn (yield component method): bushels per acre = ears per acre × kernel rows × kernels per row ÷ kernels per bushel. With a 1/1000 acre row count, that simplifies to ears × rows × kernels ÷ factor, where the factor (65–90) is kernels per bushel in thousands.
Soybeans: bushels per acre = plants per acre × pods per plant × seeds per pod ÷ seeds per pound ÷ 60.
Example soybeans: 120 plants in 17 ft 5 in of 30 in rows is 120,000 plants per acre. At 30 pods per plant and 2.5 seeds per pod that is 9 million seeds; ÷ 2,800 seeds per lb ÷ 60 = about 54 bushels per acre.
Row length for 1/1000 acre
| Row spacing | Row length | Decimal feet |
|---|---|---|
| 7.5 in | 69 ft 8 in | 69.70 |
| 15 in | 34 ft 10 in | 34.85 |
| 20 in | 26 ft 2 in | 26.14 |
| 22 in | 23 ft 9 in | 23.76 |
| 30 in | 17 ft 5 in | 17.42 |
| 36 in | 14 ft 6 in | 14.52 |
| 38 in | 13 ft 9 in | 13.76 |
How to take good samples
- Pick at least five spots that represent the field; avoid end rows, waterways and unusually good or bad areas.
- Count only ears that will be harvested; skip tiny nubbins and ears with almost no kernels.
- On each sampled ear, count kernel rows around the middle and kernels along one row, leaving out the unfilled tip and the butt kernels.
- For soybeans, count pods with at least one seed on 10 or more plants in a row and average them.
- Average the spots, and remember dry weather after sampling usually means smaller kernels or seed, so use a higher factor or more seeds per pound.
Frequently asked questions
How do you estimate corn yield per acre?
Use the yield component method: count harvestable ears in 1/1000 acre of row (17 ft 5 in for 30 in rows), multiply by the average number of kernel rows and kernels per row, and divide by a kernel size factor, often 85 or 90. For example 32 ears × 16 rows × 35 kernels ÷ 85 = about 211 bushels per acre.
What is the 90 factor in the corn yield formula?
It stands for about 90,000 kernels per bushel, which assumes fairly small kernels. Years with good grain fill produce bigger, heavier kernels, so agronomists often use 75 to 85 (75,000 to 85,000 kernels per bushel). Use 90 for drought or early frost.
How long is 1/1000 of an acre of row?
Divide 43.56 sq ft by the row width in feet: 17 ft 5 in for 30 in rows, 14 ft 6 in for 36 in, 13 ft 9 in for 38 in, 26 ft 2 in for 20 in, 34 ft 10 in for 15 in and about 69 ft 8 in for 7.5 in drilled rows.
How do you estimate soybean yield?
Count plants in a known length of row to get plants per acre, count pods per plant on several plants, multiply by seeds per pod (about 2.5) to get seeds per acre, then divide by seeds per pound (often 2,500 to 3,000) and by 60 lb per bushel.
How accurate are pre-harvest yield estimates?
They are rough. Results from a few sample spots can differ from the combine by 15 to 20 percent or more, mostly because of field variability and unknown final kernel or seed weight. Sample many representative spots and treat the result as a range.
When should I do a corn yield estimate?
From about the milk or dough stage (R3 to R4) onward, when kernels per row are set and you can see which kernels will fill. Estimates made earlier miss tip kernels that abort later.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.