TABLE 11 - 21
                     Crop Enterprise Analysis, 2004
        North Dakota Farm Business Management Education Program
                              State Report
                      (Farms Sorted By Net Return)
                        Corn Silage on Owned Land
                                       Avg. Of                         
                                      All Farms     Low 20%    High 20%
Number of fields                             42           8           8
Number of farms                              40           8           8
Acres                                     77.57       47.14      121.05
Yield per acre (ton)                       8.71        6.10       11.13
Operators share of yield %               100.00      100.00      100.00
Value per ton                             15.83       13.20       15.71
Other product return per acre              2.28          -         3.62
Total product return per acre            140.13       80.48      178.39
Miscellaneous income per acre             12.67          -        28.48
Gross return per acre                    152.80       80.48      206.86
Direct Expenses
  Seed                                    25.21       30.55       20.43
  Fertilizer                              20.78       30.53       13.72
  Crop chemicals                          13.13        8.91       12.04
  Crop insurance                           4.46        4.45        4.96
  Fuel & oil                              13.09       17.42       11.11
  Repairs                                 15.37       22.10       13.99
  Custom hire                              5.18        1.82        8.23
  Operating interest                       2.41        5.49        1.47
  Miscellaneous                            1.23          -           - 
Total direct expenses per acre           100.86      121.26       85.96
Return over direct exp per acre           51.94      -40.78      120.90
Overhead Expenses
  Hired labor                              4.89        2.75        3.04
  Machinery & bldg leases                  0.55        0.72        0.32
  RE & pers. property taxes                4.51        5.50        5.06
  Farm insurance                           1.54        2.25        1.42
  Utilities                                1.41        1.63        1.31
  Interest                                15.34       22.52       16.47
  Mach & bldg depreciation                11.47       17.24       10.28
  Miscellaneous                            2.40        2.10        2.25
Total overhead expenses per acre          42.10       54.71       40.17
Total dir & ovhd expenses per acre       142.96      175.97      126.13
Net return per acre                        9.84      -95.48       80.73
Lbr & mgt charge per acre                 17.86       21.05       17.92
Net return over lbr & mgt                 -8.02     -116.53       62.82
Government payments                        8.92       10.01        7.94
Net return with govt payments              0.90     -106.52       70.76
Cost of Production
Total direct expense per ton              11.58       19.89        7.73
Total dir & ovhd exp per ton              16.42       28.86       11.34
With labor & management                   18.47       32.32       12.95
Total exp less govt & oth income          15.73       30.67        9.35